Adeyanju slams Wike over Abuja floods, alleges waterway encroachment

Activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju has criticised Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike over the recent flooding in Abuja, accusing the administration of poor urban planning and alleged encroachment on waterways.

Adeyanju made the comments in a Facebook post following heavy rainfall that caused flooding in several parts of the nation’s capital, including the highbrow Maitama district.

The activist accused the FCT administration of allowing developments to obstruct waterways and drainage channels, arguing that such practices had contributed to the severity of the flooding.

“Wike has destroyed Abuja. The town is stinking and flooded. I have never seen this kind of complete lunacy and greed before. Maitama and most parts of Abuja now flooded because of one man’s greed. How do you allocate canals and waterways to politicians to build estates on it?” Adeyanju wrote.

His comments have generated mixed reactions on social media, with some Nigerians expressing support for his concerns about urban planning, drainage and alleged encroachment on waterways.

Others, however, criticised Adeyanju and defended Wike, arguing that flooding is influenced by several factors, including heavy rainfall, inadequate drainage infrastructure, waste disposal and developments carried out before the current administration.

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The controversy comes as the FCT administration intensifies efforts to address flooding across Abuja.

Wike has previously directed relevant agencies to inspect drainage systems and identify structures allegedly built on waterways and designated drainage corridors.

The minister has also warned that structures obstructing natural water channels would face demolition, regardless of the status or influence of their owners.

The recent flooding has renewed debate over Abuja’s master plan, development control, drainage infrastructure and the enforcement of planning regulations.

While experts have identified intense rainfall and climate-related factors as contributors to urban flooding, they have also consistently highlighted the role of blocked drainage channels, indiscriminate construction and poor waste management.

The latest dispute between Adeyanju and Wike has therefore added a political dimension to growing concerns over the management and development of the Federal Capital Territory.