Abuja floods leave motorists stranded
Heavy rainfall flooded major roads and residential areas in Abuja, leaving motorists stranded and forcing businesses to close, as concerns grow over the effectiveness of flood-control measures.
Heavy rainfall disrupted movement across parts of Abuja on Saturday as floodwaters swept through major roads and residential areas, leaving motorists stranded and forcing some businesses to close. Several locations recorded severe flooding, including Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent in Wuse 2, the area around Delight Event Centre in Gudu and parts of Efab Estate in Lokogoma. The bridge linking Gaduwa and Durumi was also overwhelmed by floodwater, preventing motorists from crossing freely.
Some vehicles were submerged or damaged by the rising water, while businesses in affected areas shut their doors as floodwaters encroached on their premises. A resident who captured the situation on the Ebeano-Gudu road in a video appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to intervene and address the flooding.
The incident has renewed questions about the effectiveness of flood-control measures and drainage infrastructure in Abuja, particularly amid concerns over the significant public funds allocated to address ecological challenges. More than ₦109.5 billion had been released from Nigeria’s Ecological Fund in three years, even as fears of flooding continued to affect communities ahead of the 2026 rainy season.
The flooding is a stark reminder that Nigeria’s infrastructure cannot cope with the increasing frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall. The billions of naira spent on ecological challenges have not prevented the flooding in Abuja, raising questions about the effectiveness of the spending.
This echoes the 2022 floods in Lagos, which also overwhelmed drainage systems. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a failure of infrastructure and a government struggling to respond.
The winners: none. The losers: motorists and residents who were stranded; businesses that lost revenue; and the Nigerian government, which faces questions about its spending on flood control.
Bottom Line: Abuja is flooded again. Over ₦109 billion has been spent on ecological challenges. The question is whether the money has been wasted or the drainage systems are simply inadequate.