Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called for clearing of drainage channels to avert flooding as the rainy season sets in.
The residents, who spoke to Abuja Metro in separate interviews across parts of the city, expressed concern that blocked drains and poor waste disposal habits could trigger avoidable flooding in many communities.
In areas such as Gwagwalada, Kubwa, Nyanya and Karu, residents said heaps of refuse dumped in drainage channels have continued to obstruct the free flow of water.
Mr. Ibrahim Adamu, a resident of Nyanya, said flooding has become a recurring challenge due to poor maintenance of drainage systems.
“Most of the drains are blocked with refuse. Once it rains heavily, water overflows into the roads and sometimes into people’s homes,” he said.
Similarly, Mrs. Grace Oche, who lives in Gwagwalada, urged authorities to take proactive steps before the situation worsens.
“We don’t want a repeat of what happened last year when many houses were flooded. Government should act now by clearing all the drainage channels,” she said.
In Kubwa, a trader, Mrs. Zainab Sani, blamed indiscriminate dumping of waste by residents as a major contributor to the problem.
“People throw refuse inside gutters, and when rain comes, it blocks everywhere. Both government and residents have roles to play,” she said.
Residents also called for stricter enforcement of environmental laws, warning that failure to act promptly could lead to loss of property and disruption of livelihoods.