Ireti Kingibe Accuses Wike of Ignoring Warnings Over Abuja Flooding

A fresh political dispute over Abuja’s flooding crisis has emerged after Senator Ireti Kingibe accused Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike of ignoring repeated warnings about drainage problems and developments she says are increasing the capital’s vulnerability to flooding.

Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, made the allegations during an appearance on ARISE TV’s Prime Time on Monday, two days after heavy rainfall caused flooding across parts of Abuja.

The flooding left some residents stranded and submerged vehicles in affected areas, bringing renewed attention to Abuja’s drainage infrastructure, urban planning and development around natural waterways.

Kingibe Says She Raised Warnings

Kingibe said her concerns about flooding were not new and that she had repeatedly raised the issue with agencies responsible for development and environmental management in the FCT.

According to the senator, she had written to the Development Control Department, Abuja Environmental Protection Board and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) over developments around green areas, flood channels, gullies and floodplains.

She said she became particularly concerned after witnessing severe flooding in Lugbe and discovering what she described as houses constructed inside flood channels.

Kingibe argued that developments approved in areas intended to allow water to flow are contributing to the problem.

Senator Blames Development on Flood Channels

The senator's main argument is that Abuja's natural drainage routes have been obstructed by construction.

She said some green areas and flood channels have been built on or narrowed, leaving rainwater with fewer routes through which to drain during heavy rainfall.

Kingibe also pointed to a residential development in Wuse Zone 6, which she alleged was being constructed on a sewage line.

She said the situation represented a departure from the principles of Abuja's original master plan and called for stronger oversight of development approvals.

Kingibe: Wike Has Worsened the Problem

While acknowledging that flooding did not begin under Wike's administration, Kingibe argued that the situation has become significantly worse.

She said the problem existed before Wike became FCT minister but accused the current administration of exacerbating it through decisions involving development and land use.

Kingibe also said she had attempted to reduce her public criticism of the minister in the hope of establishing a more cooperative relationship but claimed that the approach had not produced results.

She maintained that her criticism was about her responsibilities to FCT residents rather than a personal dispute with Wike.

Wike's Camp Pushes Back

The FCT Administration has rejected the suggestion that the recent flooding should be blamed entirely on Wike.

Lere Olayinka, Wike's Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, said flooding in Abuja predates Wike's tenure.

He acknowledged that Saturday's rainfall caused serious flooding in some areas but said the water eventually receded. Olayinka also said the FCT Administration was already taking steps to address recurring flooding.

The response has turned the flooding into a wider political argument over who should be held responsible for Abuja's drainage and urban-planning problems.

Wike Orders Action on Waterways

Amid the renewed controversy, reports indicate that Wike has ordered action against houses and other structures built on designated waterways in Abuja.

The move comes as the FCT faces renewed pressure to address flooding and prevent structures from obstructing natural drainage routes.

The development could become an important test of whether the administration can translate its response to the latest flooding into longer-term improvements.

Social Media Reaction

The flooding has generated considerable discussion online, with much of the debate centred on Wike, Abuja's rapid development and the state of its drainage infrastructure.

Some social-media users have backed Kingibe's argument that construction and poor planning are contributing to the flooding, while others have defended the FCT Administration and argued that Abuja has experienced flooding long before Wike became minister.

Posts circulating online have also focused on the broader question of land allocation and construction around green areas and waterways.

However, the online debate should not be treated as a scientific assessment of the causes of Abuja's flooding. Claims made by individual users remain opinions unless independently supported by evidence.

The Bigger Issue: Abuja's Urban Planning

Beyond the political disagreement between Kingibe and Wike, the latest flooding has highlighted a broader infrastructure challenge.

Abuja was designed with extensive green areas, drainage corridors and planned development zones. When waterways are obstructed or drainage infrastructure becomes inadequate for the volume of water generated during heavy rainfall, flooding risks can increase.

Kingibe is calling for authorities to identify affected areas, clear blocked drainage routes and investigate developments that may have interfered with natural waterways.

She has also called for residents and authorities to address waste disposal, arguing that rubbish can block drainage channels during periods of heavy rain.

What Happens Next?

The immediate priority is likely to be restoring affected roads and drainage channels while protecting residents in flood-prone communities.

But the political argument between Kingibe and the FCT Administration is unlikely to disappear quickly.

Kingibe says she raised warnings before the latest flooding and believes development decisions have increased the city's vulnerability.

Wike's administration maintains that flooding is a longstanding problem and says it is taking steps to address it.

The evidence emerging from the latest rainfall suggests that Abuja's flooding problem is bigger than one political disagreement. Drainage, waste management, land use, development approvals and climate-related rainfall patterns all need to be considered when assessing the city's vulnerability.

For residents, however, the immediate question is much simpler: whether the authorities can ensure that the next heavy rainfall does not once again leave roads submerged, vehicles stranded and communities cut off.

Sources

• TheCable — report on Kingibe's allegation that she warned Wike about flooding and blocked drainage channels.

• ARISE News — Kingibe's explanation of her concerns about construction on green areas, flood channels and floodplains.

• QEDNG — detailed report on Kingibe's comments and correspondence with FCT agencies.

• THISDAY — report on Kingibe linking Abuja flooding to developments around natural drainage channels.

• The PUNCH — response from Wike's aide arguing that Abuja flooding predates the minister's tenure.

• Intel Region — report on Wike's reported order concerning structures blocking waterways.