The Federal Ministry of Environment has blamed blocked manholes and underground drainage channels for worsening the flash flood that hit Blantyre Crescent, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, on August 15.
The ministry said silt, solid waste, and debris had obstructed several drainage inlets and manholes, restricting stormwater flow and causing the system to surcharge during heavy rainfall.
The findings were contained in a technical report by the ministry’s Department of Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management following an assessment of the area on August 17.
The inspection was led by the department’s director, Usman Abdullahi Bokani, on the directive of the Minister of Environment. The department is responsible for coordinating flood monitoring, assessment, and control measures nationwide.
According to the report, intense rainfall generated rapid urban runoff, while blocked drainage inlets and restricted underground channels prevented water from being evacuated efficiently, resulting in backflow and surface flooding.
The ministry also reported evidence of sewage-contaminated water at several locations in Abuja City Centre, saying the contamination could be linked to cross-connections, drainage surcharge, or poor maintenance of wastewater networks.
It called for an integrity assessment of the affected networks to determine the source of the contamination and identify any damaged or unauthorized connections.
The ministry said the incident exposed a broader drainage maintenance problem in the Federal Capital City. It recommended immediate clearing and desilting of affected drains and manholes, alongside inspections of upstream and downstream sections for hidden blockages.
It further recommended regular inspection and desilting of critical drainage infrastructure before each rainy season, as well as a digital register of manholes, drainage channels, flood-prone areas, and maintenance records.
The ministry stressed that emergency clearing alone would not solve Abuja’s recurring flooding, calling instead for routine and preventive maintenance of the city’s drainage infrastructure.
The recommendations come amid broader federal flood warnings, with the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre recently identifying heavy rainfall, rapid runoff, and overwhelmed drainage systems as key flood risks during the current rainy season.
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