Questions as Flood Persists in Abuja Despite N1.24bn Ecological Fund

By Daniel Adaji Each time dark clouds gather over Abuja, anxiety follows. For residents of Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Lokogoma, Galadimawa, Yangoji and several other flood-prone communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), rainfall has become more than a weather event. It is a reminder of submerged homes, destroyed livelihoods, damaged vehicles and lives disrupted by floodwaters that continue to return year after year. Yet, official records show that between June 2023 and December 2025, the FCT received about ₦1.24 billion from the Ecological Fund, a special intervention fund established to address environmental challenges such as erosion, flooding and other ecological threats. The persistent flooding across the nation’s capital despite these allocations is raising difficult questions about infrastructure, drainage management, urban planning and the effectiveness of ecological interventions. Data obtained by Daily Trust from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) shows that the FCT received ₦183.84 million between June and December, 2023, ₦395.49 million in 2024, and ₦659.56 million in 2025, bringing the total allocation over the three-year period to ₦1,238,899,232.18. Despite the steady increase in funding, many residents say the impact remains difficult to see on the ground. The flood crisis became particularly visible in June 2023 when torrential rainfall submerged parts of Trademore Estate in Lugbe. The disaster affected about 116 houses and forced the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to declare parts of the estate a disaster area while considering evacuation measures for residents living in vulnerable locations. Barely days later, on July 4, 2023, another flash flood struck Yangoji community in Kwali Area Council, destroying approximately 70 houses and affecting more than 180 residents. Farmlands were washed away, leaving many families struggling to recover. The situation worsened later that month as prolonged rainfall triggered widespread flooding across Trademore Estate, Clobek Estate, Wisdom Estate, Airport Road, Galadimawa and Lokogoma. Roads became impassable. Businesses shut down. Schools were disrupted. Reports indicated that bodies were recovered around the Trademore axis following the flooding. By the end of 2023, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reported that 1,373 people had been rescued from flood disasters across the FCT, while four flood-related deaths were recorded. In Yangoji and Shafi communities alone, more than 200 households were displaced and extensive farmland destroyed. Although Abuja did not witness another flood disaster on the scale of Trademore in 2024 and 2025, seasonal flooding continued to affect vulnerable communities including Lugbe, Lokogoma, Trademore corridor and several riverine settlements. Flood alerts remained frequent throughout 2025 as heavy rainfall affected central Nigeria and neighbouring river basins. As the 2026 rainy season begins, the FCT remains among areas officially classified as high-risk flood zones. Beyond the headline-grabbing disasters, residents say a quieter but persistent form of flooding has become a regular feature of life in the capital city. Recent rains left portions of Jabi Under Bridge, Utako, Wuse, Berger Junction and Aminu Kano Crescent waterlogged, creating traffic chaos and exposing motorists and pedestrians to danger. Commercial driver Musa Sani Aliyu described the experience as both frightening and costly. “Sometimes the water rises to the middle of the tyre. Drivers become scared because you don’t know what is inside the water,” he said. Another motorist, Polycarp Jonathan, lamented the financial burden of repairing vehicles damaged by floodwaters. “When water enters the engine or electrical parts, you will definitely spend money. Some cars stop in the middle of the road immediately after passing through the water,” he said. For civil servant, Grace Matthew, even walking to work after rainfall has become a challenge. “You either remove your shoes or wait for the water to reduce before crossing,” she said. Ismaila Garba, another resident, expressed frustration over the recurring situation. “This is Abuja. Roads should not become rivers each time it rains,” he said. Engineering experts argue that the problem is not simply rainfall. A former Director of Works and Maintenance Services at the Federal University of Lafia, Engr. Riyadh Ojulari, blamed the recurring flooding on blocked drainage channels, indiscriminate waste disposal, illegal structures on waterways and increasing pressure on existing infrastructure. “The major cause of this flooding is clogged drainage. Most of the drainages are blocked,” he said. According to him, many drainage systems already exist but have become ineffective because refuse and debris prevent the free flow of water. He also warned that Abuja’s rapid population growth has outpaced existing drainage infrastructure, while violations of the city’s master plan continue to worsen flood risks. “When you build illegally on drainage routes, it will cause this kind of problem,” he said. Ojulari called for regular desilting of drainage channels, stricter enforcement against illegal developments and upgrades to ageing infrastructure. Abuja’s flood challenge mirrors a broader national crisis. Across Nigeria, flooding has intensified in recent years, causing widespread devastation. In 2024 alone, floods affected more than 5.2 million people, displaced 1.24 million residents and caused over 1,200 deaths nationwide, according to available data. By August 2025, floods had affected 25 states, killed 228 people, displaced more than 71,000 persons and damaged over 21,000 houses. In June of the same year, catastrophic flooding in Mokwa, Niger State, left more than 150 people dead, displaced thousands and destroyed critical infrastructure, making it one of Nigeria’s deadliest recent flood disasters. On Sunday, about 100 houses were destroyed and several families displaced after a rainstorm ravaged Tom Gangare community in Sopp Ward of Riyom Local Council of Plateau State. The disaster followed a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds. The storm also destroyed health facilities, places of worship and other critical infrastructure, leaving residents counting their losses. At the unveiling of the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, acknowledged that flood management remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing environmental challenges. The President said the Federal Government had implemented nationwide flood control projects and was shifting from reactive disaster response to proactive flood management. He cited the establishment of an Anticipatory Action Framework aimed at strengthening early warning systems, preparedness and emergency response. Similarly, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, disclosed that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had identified 14,118 communities in 266 Local Government Areas across 33 states and the FCT as high-risk flood zones for 2026. The minister also announced improved forecasting systems, enhanced collaboration with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and expanded early warning mechanisms. For many residents of Abuja’s flood-prone communities, however, the central question remains unanswered. If more than ₦1.24 billion has been allocated to address ecological challenges in the FCT within three years, why do roads still become rivers after every major rainfall? Why do residents still navigate submerged streets, blocked drainages and flood-prone neighbourhoods? As another rainy season gathers momentum and flood warnings intensify across the country, residents say they are less interested in promises and more concerned about visible action. For families in Trademore, Yangoji, Lugbe and other vulnerable communities, accountability is no longer a political issue. It is a matter of safety, livelihood and survival. And until the floodwaters stop returning, the questions surrounding the utilisation and impact of ecological interventions in the nation’s capital are unlikely to disappear.