As the rainy season approaches, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced plans to restrict both human and vehicular access to the flood-prone Lokogoma Estate in Abuja.
The move, according to the Director of the FCT Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, is part of an emergency response strategy aimed at preventing flood-related deaths in 2025.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ inspection of the estate on Tuesday, Galadima expressed concern over the ongoing disregard for planning regulations. He noted that many developers continue to erect buildings on waterways despite repeated warnings from authorities.
“These illegal structures have worsened the risk of flooding in Lokogoma,” he said. “We can no longer tolerate actions that endanger lives.”
To address the problem, Galadima said the FCTA will conduct a full review of the estate’s infrastructure. This may involve the demolition of buildings blocking drainage routes and a comprehensive reopening of water channels to improve flow.
He added that the planned road diversion is a temporary but necessary measure to protect residents and property within Lokogoma and neighboring communities.
“We are making this sacrifice now to save lives later,” he emphasized.
The FCTA is also urging residents and developers to cooperate fully as authorities implement flood control measures across the Territory.
