The FCT Stakeholders Forum for Development (FSTF) has called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to take urgent measures to tackle the recurring flooding in Abuja, including the desilting of drainage channels, enforcement against encroachment and a comprehensive review of the territory’s 1979 Master Plan.
The forum, comprising landlords, business owners and investors in the FCT, made the demand on Wednesday at a press conference in Abuja, where it expressed concern over the impact of recent floods across the nation’s capital.
Speaking on behalf of the group, its Chairman, Chief David Kente, said the floods had submerged homes, cut off roads and disrupted livelihoods, stressing that the situation required immediate and coordinated intervention.
“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,” Kente said.
He said the forum’s independent assessment of affected communities identified rapid urban expansion, blocked drainage systems and indiscriminate waste disposal as major contributors to the flooding. He also identified the removal of drainage covers by scavengers as a factor exacerbating the blockage of waterways.
While acknowledging criticism linking the floods to alleged violations of the Abuja Master Plan, the FSTF maintained that flooding had occurred under successive FCT administrations and should therefore be addressed as a longstanding urban planning and environmental challenge rather than attributed solely to the administration of the current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The forum, however, called for an urgent review and modernisation of the 1979 Master Plan, arguing that it no longer adequately reflects Abuja’s population growth and infrastructure requirements.
“The 1979 Master Plan is outdated.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 modernisation,” Kente said.
The call comes amid heightened concerns over flood preparedness across the country. The National Emergency Management Agency has activated its National Emergency Operations Centre to strengthen monitoring, data collection and coordination of responses to flooding during the 2026 rainy season.
The Nigeria Meteorological Agency has also identified the FCT among areas at high risk of flash flooding, citing factors including rainfall intensity, soil moisture, terrain and drainage capacity.
Despite its concerns, the forum expressed confidence in Wike’s administration, citing ongoing road construction, urban renewal and other infrastructure projects across the territory.
Kente described Wike as “Mr Project”, saying the administration’s infrastructure drive could contribute significantly to Abuja’s economic development if complemented by effective environmental planning.
The forum nevertheless urged the minister to ensure that infrastructure development did not aggravate existing environmental challenges.
“We appeal to the Honourable Minister to take immediate and decisive action to address flooding in the FCT. This must include desilting of drainages, enforcement against encroachment, and a comprehensive review of the 1979 Master Plan,” Kente said.
It further urged the FCTA to ensure that development projects complied with due process and environmental regulations to minimise hardship on residents.
The call comes against the backdrop of ongoing drainage and road improvement projects in parts of Abuja, including areas around the World Trade Centre and Abuja Metro Rail corridor that have experienced flooding and traffic challenges during periods of heavy rainfall.
Kente said the forum remained optimistic that Abuja could become a flood-resilient capital through stronger urban planning, political will and sustained collaboration between government and residents.
“We believe that with political will, stakeholder collaboration, and proper planning, Abuja can become both a model capital and a flood-resilient city,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has defended Wike against criticism over the recent flooding, arguing that residents must also take responsibility for activities that contribute to the problem.
Agbese said it was unfair to blame the FCT Minister for the floods, noting that the FCTA had undertaken several infrastructure projects aimed at improving roads, drainage, transportation and other critical facilities across the territory.
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