Flooding: FCT landlords, others demand review of 1979 Abuja master plan

Landlords, business owners and investors in the Federal Capital Territory, under the aegis of the FCT Stakeholders Forum for Development (FSTF), on Wednesday, passed a vote of confidence in the administration of the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, even as they demanded urgent and decisive measures to tackle the worsening flooding in parts of Abuja.

The stakeholders said while the recent floods had triggered legitimate concerns over infrastructure, environmental management and possible violations of the Abuja Master Plan, the problem predated the current administration and was driven by a combination of rapid urban expansion, blocked drainage channels, indiscriminate waste disposal and other human and systemic factors.

Chairman of the FSTF, Chief David Sabo Kente, disclosed this yesterday at a press conference in Abuja, where he presented the forum’s findings from what he described as an independent fact-finding assessment of areas affected by the recent flooding.

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Kente said the forum acknowledged concerns over alleged encroachment on green areas, parks, drainage corridors, canals and waterways originally designed to support flood control and groundwater recharge.

“Flooding is no longer an isolated incident. Communities that never experienced such levels of inundation are now vulnerable. Homes have been submerged, roads cut off, and livelihoods disrupted,” he said.

According to him, however, the flooding crisis could not be attributed solely to the administration of Wike.

“Our findings indicate three key realities,” he said, adding that “this is not a new problem. Abuja has recorded flooding incidents long before the current administration. The challenge predates Minister Wike.”

Kente said the forum’s assessment also identified human activities as contributing to the problem, particularly rapid urban expansion, indiscriminate refuse dumping and the removal of drainage covers by scavengers.

He argued that the continued expansion of Abuja had also exposed the limitations of the city’s existing planning framework, stressing that the 1979 Abuja Master Plan no longer adequately reflected the realities of the nation’s rapidly growing capital.

“The 1979 Master Plan is outdated. The document that guides development in the FCT no longer reflects the demographic and infrastructural realities of a capital city of over 3.5 million people. It requires urgent review and modernization,” he said.

Despite the concerns over flooding, the stakeholders expressed strong support for Wike’s stewardship of the FCT, citing the scale of infrastructure projects undertaken since his assumption of office.

Kente said that in less than three years, the territory had witnessed major interventions in roads, flyovers, carriageways and other infrastructure across Abuja and the satellite towns.

He also listed the rehabilitation of public schools, provision of patrol vehicles to security agencies, construction of modern bus terminals and expansion of rural healthcare facilities among projects undertaken by the administration.

According to him, the projects reflected an attempt by the FCT Administration to combine physical infrastructure development with essential social services.

The stakeholders consequently described Wike as “Mr Project,” citing what they regarded as his aggressive infrastructure drive and efforts to unlock the commercial and social potential of the nation’s capital.

Kente said the Minister had approached governance with the conviction that “infrastructure is the supreme engine of economic survival.”

However, the stakeholders said their endorsement of the administration did not diminish the need for immediate action on the flooding crisis.

They urged Wike to make flood control an urgent priority by ordering the desilting of drainage channels, enforcing planning regulations against encroachment and commencing a comprehensive review of the Abuja Master Plan.

They also called on the FCT Administration to ensure that all development projects followed due process to prevent infrastructure interventions from creating additional hardship for residents.

“Ensure that all development projects follow due process to avoid imposing hardship on residents, even as we pursue progress,” Kente said.

The forum expressed confidence that stronger collaboration between residents, investors and the FCT Administration could help address the environmental and infrastructural challenges confronting Abuja.

“We believe that with political will, stakeholder collaboration, and proper planning, Abuja can become both a model capital and a flood-resilient city,” Kente said.

The FSTF pledged to continue working with the FCT Administration to promote infrastructure development, environmental management, security, and peaceful coexistence across the territory.