WIKE APPROVES MAJOR DESILTING CONTRACTS AS FCTA INTENSIFIES FLOOD-CONTROL MEASURES ACROSS ABUJA
By: David Udo
The Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has approved the award of contracts for the extensive desilting of drainage networks and related maintenance works across key districts of the Federal Capital City, as part of the Administration’s aggressive strategy to combat flooding and protect critical infrastructure during the rainy season.
The projects are being supervised by the Department of Facilities Maintenance and Management (DFMM), the agency responsible for ensuring the effective execution, monitoring and quality control of the ongoing interventions.
The large-scale exercise is aimed at restoring the operational capacity of Abuja’s drainage infrastructure through the systematic removal of accumulated silt, debris, and other waste materials that obstruct the free flow of stormwater and increase the risk of flooding.
Areas currently benefiting from the intervention include Asokoro District, Lifecamp, Gwarinpa, Wuse, Katampe, and Asokoro Extension, among other strategic locations within the Federal Capital City. In Asokoro, ongoing works are concentrated along Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Julius Nyerere Crescent and Kwame Nkrumah Crescent, where critical drainage channels, gully inlets and manholes are being cleared and restored.
In addition to desilting operations, complementary pothole repairs are being undertaken in selected locations to improve road safety, facilitate the smooth movement of traffic and preserve public infrastructure.
The intervention is part of the FCT Administration’s broader commitment to flood prevention, environmental sustainability and infrastructure maintenance. It is expected to significantly reduce incidents of waterlogging, improve drainage efficiency and minimise disruptions to economic and social activities across the nation’s capital.
Preliminary assessments from completed sections indicate marked improvements in stormwater discharge capacity, with previously blocked drainage channels restored to functionality and vehicular movement enhanced along affected corridors.
Speaking on the ongoing exercise, the Director of the Department of Facilities Maintenance and Management, Engr. Ayuba A. Usman, FNSE, reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to proactive maintenance and effective flood management.
“The FCT Administration remains resolute in its determination to protect lives, property and public infrastructure through sustained maintenance of critical assets. Functional drainage systems are indispensable to effective flood control, environmental protection and the uninterrupted flow of economic activities within the Federal Capital Territory.”
The Director noted that despite ongoing government interventions, indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels continues to pose a major threat to the effectiveness of the Territory’s flood-control infrastructure.
He therefore called on residents, business owners, and other stakeholders to support the Administration’s efforts by adopting responsible waste-disposal practices and protecting public infrastructure from abuse and vandalism.
Abuja Digest reports that the Federal Capital Territory Administration is committed to building a cleaner, safer, and more resilient capital city through strategic investments in infrastructure maintenance, environmental management, and sustainable urban development.
