JOINT PRESS STATEMENT
Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet), a coalition of about 300 civil society organisations cutting across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, and one of its youth-led member organisations, United Youths 4 Environmental Sustainability Initiatives (UY4ESI), are deeply concerned about the recurring flooding incidents across parts of Abuja in recent weeks. The situation has disrupted movement, affected businesses and livelihoods, damaged properties and placed particular strain on informal workers, women traders and low-income households whose livelihoods depend on uninterrupted access to the city, thereby exposing significant weaknesses in the capital’s ability to manage increasing flood risks.
In recent weeks, flooding has been reported in several parts of the Federal Capital Territory, including Lugbe and the Trademore axis, Lokogoma, Wuse 2, Gudu, Gaduwa and Durumi, with other districts such as Maitama, Katampe, Mabushi, Wuye and Gwarinpa also affected.
While intense rainfall can trigger flooding, the scale of its consequences is also shaped by three critical factors: exposure, vulnerability and coping capacity. The recent incidents should therefore not be viewed simply as a consequence of heavy rainfall, but as a stark reminder of the need to examine how Abuja is planned, developed and managed.
A Structural Challenge That Requires Preventive Action
From our assessment, Abuja faces a growing structural challenge in flood prevention and management. The continued conversion or misuse of floodplains, natural waterways, drainage corridors and green spaces for structures and residential development, particularly where such development obstructs natural water pathways, can significantly increase exposure and vulnerability to flooding.
Recent developments have already brought renewed scrutiny to structures built on waterways and green areas, while the FCT Administration has commenced interventions including the removal of structures obstructing designated waterways and the desilting of drainage channels.
The condition and maintenance of drainage infrastructure is another concern. In some locations, drains and channels are affected by accumulated silt, waste and debris, while the design, capacity and hydraulic performance of some drainage systems appear inadequate for the volume and speed of runoff they are expected to convey. Indiscriminate waste disposal further compounds the problem by obstructing drainage channels and reducing the efficiency of existing infrastructure.
This is therefore not only an infrastructure challenge. It is also a question of environmental governance, development control, enforcement and institutional capacity.
Mr. Stephen Abu, National Network Coordinator, CSDevNet, said:
“The recurring flooding in Abuja should be treated as a clear warning that prevention must take precedence over repeated emergency response. We need stronger coordination between planning, environmental and disaster-management institutions, better enforcement of development regulations, properly maintained infrastructure and communities that are informed and prepared. Every development decision should reduce, rather than create, future disaster risk.”
Strengthening Institutions and Enforcement
Effective flood risk management also requires institutions with the authority, resources and technical capacity to act before disasters occur.
Regulatory and enforcement institutions, including the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and relevant planning and development-control authorities, must be adequately supported to carry out their mandates effectively. Environmental regulations and planning requirements must not only exist on paper but be consistently enforced, while development approvals must adequately account for flood risk, drainage capacity and the ecological functions of natural water systems.
We recognize ongoing efforts by the FCT Administration to clear and desilt drainage channels and address structures obstructing waterways. However, these interventions need to form part of a sustained, city-wide flood-risk management strategy, rather than remain largely reactive measures following major flooding incidents.
Musa Ibrahim, Executive Director, UY4ESI, said:
“We must begin to look at flooding in Abuja through the lens of exposure, vulnerability and coping capacity. We cannot continue to convert wetlands, floodplains, green spaces and natural waterways for development and then be surprised when water finds new pathways during intense rainfall. Poorly maintained drainage systems, blocked channels, indiscriminate waste disposal and drainage infrastructure that is not fit for purpose are all contributing to the problem. Abuja needs development that works with its natural systems, not against them. Prevention must become a central part of our urban development and environmental governance.”
Our Call for Action
- A comprehensive assessment of Abuja’s flood-risk hotspots, including drainage capacity, natural waterways, floodplains and areas experiencing recurrent flooding.
- Strict protection of floodplains, wetlands, green spaces and natural drainage corridors from inappropriate development.
- Regular desilting, maintenance and upgrading of drainage infrastructure, with attention to the hydraulic capacity and design adequacy of drainage systems.
- Stronger enforcement of planning and environmental regulations, particularly against developments that obstruct waterways or violate designated land-use requirements.
- Improved solid waste management and enforcement against indiscriminate disposal of waste into drains and waterways.
- Adequate technical and financial support for relevant regulatory institutions, including AEPB and development-control authorities.
- Stronger flood early-warning, preparedness and early-action mechanisms, with risk information reaching communities before heavy rainfall events.
- Greater use of nature-based solutions and green infrastructure as part of Abuja’s long-term flood-management strategy.
- Meaningful participation of communities, civil society, academia and the private sector in identifying and addressing local flood risks.
The economic consequences of recurrent flooding are also becoming increasingly significant. Businesses lose operating hours, transportation is disrupted, properties and infrastructure are damaged, and household livelihoods are affected. While a comprehensive official estimate of the economic losses from the recent incidents is not yet available, the repeated disruption across commercial and residential areas demonstrates that the cost of inaction is substantial.
A Moment to Correct Course
The recent flooding should not become another cycle of emergency response, recovery and a return to business as usual. It should be a moment to learn, correct course and strengthen Abuja’s capacity to withstand future shocks. Flooding is not only about how much rain falls, it is also about where we build, how we manage water, how well our infrastructure functions, how effectively regulations are enforced and how prepared our institutions and communities are. Building a resilient Abuja requires reducing exposure, addressing vulnerability and strengthening our collective capacity to cope before hazards become disasters. CSDevNet and UY4ESI reaffirm their commitment to working with the FCT Administration, communities, development partners, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders to advance practical approaches to disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation and sustainable urban development.
Abuja deserves development that protects its people, its economy and the natural systems that sustain the city.
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