Flooding: FCT Minister Approves Demolition of 23 Houses along Airport Road

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello, has approved the removal of 23 houses earlier marked for demolition at the Trade More Estate, Lugbe, along the International Airport corridor in the Abuja Municipal Area Council next week.

The Director General of FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Alhaji Abbas Garba Idriss, announced this after a meeting with the association of residents of Trade More Estate, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) and the Department of Development Control at the estate.

Idriss, who was represented by the Acting Director, Forecasting Response and Mitigation, FEMA, Mrs. Florence Wenegieme, said the affected properties were built on waterways that were constricting the water channels.

He blamed the perennial flooding at Trade More Estate on human induced activities, noting that the developer had allocated plots of land on waterways with development presently ongoing.

He explained that the 2022 annual flood outlook placed AMAC and Gwagwalada on high probable flood risk, stressing that Trade More Estate was on a low plain and advised residents to relocate to safer grounds.

The director general further added that FEMA had stationed its rescue teams and local divers in flood prone areas of the territory, barricaded vulnerable roads and mounted early warning signs, stressing that the vandalised signs would soon be replaced.

He further stated that FEMA would continue to carry out sensitisation across all the area councils using town criers, as well as broadcast media and social media handles.