FCTA Begins City-Wide Drainage Desilting After Floods

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun a city-wide desilting exercise to clear drainage channels following heavy rainfall that triggered flash floods across parts of Abuja.

The operation targets drainage systems affected by the torrential downpours as the rainy season reaches its peak.

During an inspection of the ongoing clearance work along the Airport Expressway on Thursday, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Richard Dauda, said the exercise followed a directive from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

The minister issued the directive after a flash flood submerged parts of the Airport Expressway on Tuesday, raising concerns about the impact of blocked or inadequate drainage channels during periods of intense rainfall.

Dauda said the ongoing operation would help reduce the risk of further flooding across the nation’s capital as heavy rains continue.

The FCTA drainage clearance is therefore aimed at improving the flow of stormwater through existing channels and limiting the impact of flash floods during the peak of the rainy season.

The administration’s response comes as torrential rainfall continues to create flood risks in vulnerable areas, making effective drainage systems important for protecting roads and communities.

The clearance exercise along the Airport Expressway forms part of the wider effort to mitigate flood risks in the FCT and improve the city’s preparedness for further heavy rainfall.

Do you think regular drainage desilting could significantly reduce flooding across Abuja during the rainy season?