Abuja floods: Wike’s aide slams Adeyanju, says flooding predates FCT minister

File: The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lere Olayinka.

The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lere Olayinka, has defended the FCT Administration over Saturday’s flooding in parts of Abuja, saying the problem predates the assumption of office of Minister Nyesom Wike.

Olayinka also accused lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju of politicising the incident by blaming Wike for the flooding, while noting that the FCT Administration was already taking steps to address the recurring problem.

The statement comes amid renewed public attention to flooding in Abuja following Saturday’s downpour, with the incident reigniting debate over drainage infrastructure, urban planning, waste disposal and flood management in the Federal Capital Territory.

Olayinka, however, dismissed the criticism of the FCT Administration, insisting that the flooding should be viewed within the broader history of the capital’s recurring drainage and urban planning challenges.

In a statement issued on Monday, Olayinka said the heavy rainfall on Saturday resulted in flooding in some parts of the nation’s capital, but noted that the water receded after some time.

He said the FCT Administration was mindful of the recurring flooding and was taking measures to prevent future occurrences, while criticising Adeyanju for repeatedly attacking Wike over the incident.

“There was heavy downpour in Abuja on Saturday, and consequently, some areas got heavily flooded. The flood remained for a while after the rainfall and disappeared.

“Even though the FCT Administration under Nyesom Wike, is mindful of this development and is taking steps to forestall future occurrence, it is funny that characters like this Online Baseless Lawyer who is always looking for attention has been shouting WIKE HAS DESTROYED ABUJA since yesterday, as if last Saturday was the first time some areas in Abuja got flooded,” Olayinka’s statement partly read.

He questioned whether Wike could be held responsible for similar flooding recorded in Abuja before he became FCT minister. “When there was flood in Abuja in 2019, as reported in the media, was it Wike that caused it?” he asked.

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Olayinka recalled that heavy rainfall had flooded parts of Wuse, Jabi and Lokogoma in 2019, while similar incidents occurred in Lokogoma district, Efab Estate, Gudu axis and adjoining bridges in 2022.

He said the recurrence of flooding reflected the challenges associated with the rapid expansion of the Federal Capital Territory, particularly inadequate drainage infrastructure, waste management and enforcement of planning regulations.

“Sad reality is that Abuja has been witnessing floods long before Wike assumed office. In 2019, heavy rainfall flooded sections of Wuse, Jabi and Lokogoma. In 2022, the same pattern returned: Lokogoma district, Efab Estate, Gudu axis and connecting bridges were overwhelmed.

“Therefore, the flood witnessed last Saturday was another reminder of the seasonal reality of a rapidly expanding city with drainage infrastructure, waste management and enforcement of planning rules not keeping pace with growth,” he continued.

The presidential aide also blamed the activities of scavengers for worsening the drainage problem, alleging that stolen drainage covers left channels exposed to refuse. “It is also a pointer to damages being caused by scavengers who are daily stealing drainage covers, thereby exposing the drainage to refuse,” he said.

Olayinka added that the FCT Administration was reviewing the 1979 Abuja Master Plan to reflect the current realities of the capital city. “To address this, the FCT Administration is already reviewing the 1979 Abuja Master Plan to accommodate the new realities of the capital city,” he said.

He added that the administration had begun using drainage covers designed to make them difficult for scavengers to remove.

“Drainage covers that will be impossible for scavengers to remove are also being used,” he stated.