Capital City at Risk: Authorities Pinpoint Vulnerable Neighborhoods, Launch Public Education Initiative

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency has pinpointed communities at risk of flooding and initiated a campaign to bolster preparedness and lessen the impact of anticipated floods across the territory, following directives from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to proactively mitigate predicted disasters.

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The agency's efforts are focused on early intervention, public awareness, and assessment of vulnerable communities, with the campaign kicking off in Gwagwalada Area Council through a stakeholders' meeting at the palace of the Aguna of Gwagwalada, Muhammad Magaji, on Wednesday.

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At the event, the Head of Forecasting, Response and Mitigation at FCTEMA, Mr Mark Nyam, emphasized that the exercise aims to translate national flood predictions into community-level action to enhance preparedness in vulnerable locations, with Mr Baba Gambo and Mr Zakaria Abubakar in attendance.

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Nyam, represented by the Director-General, indicated that forecasts suggest 33 states and the FCT may experience severe flooding this year due to climate change, with Gwagwalada, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Kuje, Kwali, and Abaji being among the locations requiring close monitoring.

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Gwagwalada is ranked among the three high-risk area councils selected for direct intervention during the flood season, according to Nyam, who dismissed claims that dam operations are responsible for flooding in the area.

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Instead, Nyam attributed flooding in Gwagwalada to heavy runoff and human activities, particularly building on waterways and failing to construct proper drainage channels, emphasizing that "flooding in Gwagwalada is not caused by dams but by heavy runoff and human activities, particularly building on waterways instead of constructing drainage channels".

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Nyam urged residents to avoid building along waterways, stressing that disasters often occur in areas where people reside, and highlighted the importance of proper waste disposal and regular drainage maintenance in reducing flood risks.

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FCTEMA has written to the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the six area councils to activate sanitary inspectors for improved environmental sanitation, according to Nyam, who emphasized the need for community-level action to mitigate flood risks.

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Community leaders called on the agency to prioritize preventive measures and structural interventions over post-disaster relief, seeking practical solutions to recurring floods and better community preparedness before peak rainfall.

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The leaders also appealed to FCTEMA to equip residents with the knowledge and resources needed to reduce flood impacts, identifying inadequate waste disposal facilities as a major contributor to blocked drainage channels across affected communities.

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They urged FCTEMA and the National Emergency Management Agency to provide waste bins to improve sanitation and prevent flooding, with Mrs Sarauniya Ranjo, Women Leader of Gwagwalada Area Council, advocating for direct professional field assessments instead of relying on secondary reports.

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Ranjo emphasized that comprehensive investigations would enable authorities to develop more effective and sustainable flood control measures, a sentiment echoed by Community Chairman Chief Bitrus Ayinka, who advocated for deliberate planning, including relocating residents living along riverbanks to safer locations.

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Ayinka cited previous flooding in Kuje and other councils, urging authorities to deploy additional personnel for effective disaster management, and Nyam responded by assuring participants that all requests would be forwarded to FCTEMA's leadership for consideration.

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Nyam also stated that the agency would facilitate relief support where necessary, recalling assistance previously provided to affected communities, and Alhaji Bala Madaki, speaking on behalf of the Aguna of Gwagwalada, appreciated FCTEMA for engaging community leaders on flood preparedness.

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Madaki urged that future relief materials be distributed through district heads to ensure transparency and equitable access, reaffirming the traditional institution's commitment to supporting disaster preparedness efforts.