Some residents of Pyakasa, a satellite town in the FCT, have called for immediate intervention to prevent further disasters from constant flooding.

The residents who spoke on Friday said there was a need for the FCT Administration (FCTA) to step in to tackle the problem. They believed the situation was caused by buildings erected on waterways that passed through the area.

The residents said areas most affected were Goshen Villa, Diamond City Luxury and Royale, Angel Martins and Redeemers estates.

A businesswoman, Saratu Iliya, expressed concerns about the continuing danger from the flood the residents contend with. Ms Iliya said she was trapped for six hours during a heavy downpour and could not pick up her children from school when the access road and bridge in the area became flooded.

“We want the FCTA to come to our aid in this Pyakasa axis, we are losing our property, all our homes may soon be cut off because of the impact of severe flooding,” stated Ms Iliya.

Another resident, Johnson Achimugu, a civil servant, said many estates along that axis become inaccessible whenever it rained, noting that “the cause of the recent river flooding in the area is largely due to the development of residential buildings on the natural waterway that flows through some of the estates in the area.”

Mr Achimugu added, “It is the same water channel that flows all through to Trademore Estate, which recently experienced flooding that led to the loss of lives and properties. We are calling on the FCTA to immediately swing into action to save lives and property.”

John Akinsete said there was a need for relevant authorities to urgently address the man-made issue by ensuring enough space for rainwater to flow freely.

According to him, the FCTA should arrest and prosecute any of its officials who compromised building standards and approved the construction of structures in flood-prone areas.

“It is worrisome that we continue to see the erection of houses and estates in flood channels within the FCT; without the connivance of some government officials, the estate owners cannot successfully complete their structures,” Mr Akinsete explained. “If the issue is not addressed quickly, I am concerned that lives might be lost, in addition to significant negative economic, environmental and social impacts.”

While presenting the Global Rapid (Post Disaster) Damage Estimation (GRADE) Assessment Report of the 2022 flood situation in Nigeria, the federal government said the FCT and the 36 states incurred an estimated economic loss of $6.68 billion.

The losses include damages to residential and non-residential buildings, infrastructure, productive sectors and farmlands. 

(NAN)