Expert Advocates Climate-Resilient Planning for Abuja Floods

Dr. Mamoud Bello Abubakar, the Chief Executive Officer of Engineering and Environmental Management Services Limited, called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to shift from reactive emergency responses to anticipatory, climate-resilient urban planning to manage the recurring floods in Abuja. In a statement made on Friday, Abubakar identified various factors contributing to the flooding, including climate change, rapid urbanization, encroachment on natural drainage corridors, poor waste disposal, and weaknesses in development control and infrastructure maintenance.

He emphasized that the flooding issue should not be viewed merely as a rainfall problem. Abubakar proposed a six-point program for the FCTA, which includes conducting flood-risk and drainage assessments, mapping and protecting floodplains, enforcing development-control regulations, upgrading drainage infrastructure, and strengthening community-level early-warning and evacuation systems.

He also urged residents to refrain from dumping waste into drains and waterways.