Nigeria: Deji Adeyanju Writes Tinubu Over Abuja Flooding, Says Threat to Capital

What the report says

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to treat flooding in Abuja as an urgent threat to the Federal Capital Territory, according to Vanguard, which was distributed by AllAfrica. In an open letter, Adeyanju said recent floods in the city show that the problem is no longer just the result of heavy rain and argued that the capital’s infrastructure and environmental planning are being strained.

The letter said some parts of Abuja that were once less exposed to flooding are now experiencing submerged homes and blocked roads. Adeyanju also pointed to communities he described as flood-prone, including areas such as Lokogoma, Galadimawa, Lugbe, Maitama, Wuse, Garki, Asokoro, Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Kubwa, Kuje, Kwali and Abaji. He called for stronger federal intervention and a review of land use in spaces meant for drainage, waterways, parks and other green areas.

Adeyanju argued that parts of Abuja’s original master plan were intended to help control flooding, but that development over those zones has weakened that protection. He said the issue matters beyond local residents because Abuja hosts major national institutions, foreign missions and international organizations. More broadly, the report reflects continuing concern about urban flooding in Nigerian cities, especially where drainage systems and land management have been under pressure.