By our reporter
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through its Department of Facilities Maintenance and Management (DFMM), has intensified the ongoing citywide desilting and drainage maintenance operations across major districts of the Federal Capital City (FCC) as part of a strategic flood control and infrastructure preservation programme.
The intervention is aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the capital city’s drainage network, ensuring the free flow of stormwater and mitigating the impact of heavy rainfall on residents, businesses, and critical public infrastructure.
These were contained in a press statement, a copy of which was made available to People&Politics in Abuja today. The statement was signed by David Udo of the department’s Information Unit.
According to the statement, the exercise involves the systematic removal of accumulated silt, debris and waste materials from drainage channels, gully inlets and manholes in key locations across Abuja, including Asokoro District, Lifecamp, Guzape, Wuse, Katampe, Gwarinpa and Asokoro Extension.
Within Asokoro District, it further disclosed, drainage maintenance works are being carried out along major corridors, including Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Julius Nyerere Crescent, and Kwame Nkrumah Crescent, among other strategic routes.
In addition to desilting activities, pothole repairs are being undertaken in selected locations to improve road safety, enhance mobility, and support uninterrupted socio-economic activities across the territory.
The initiative forms part of FCTA’s broader commitment to preventing flooding, protecting lives and property, reducing traffic disruptions caused by waterlogging, and strengthening environmental sanitation within the FCC.
Preliminary assessments, it added, indicate that completed sections of the project have recorded significant improvements in drainage performance, with previously obstructed channels restored to full functionality.
The intervention has also aided smoother vehicular movement and improved accessibility in affected communities.
Speaking on the significance of the exercise, the Director of DFMM, Engr. (Dr.) Ayuba A. Usman, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to proactive infrastructure maintenance and sustainable flood-management measures.
“The FCT Administration remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of residents through continuous maintenance of critical infrastructure. Effective drainage systems are indispensable to flood prevention, environmental sustainability, and the smooth functioning of economic activities across the capital city,” Engr. Usman, a fellow of Nigeria Society of Engineers (FNSE), said.
The director further identified indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels as a major contributor to flooding and called on residents to support government’s efforts by adopting responsible waste-disposal practices and safeguarding public infrastructure.
He emphasised that preventing flooding requires collective responsibility and sustained public cooperation alongside ongoing government interventions.
The FCTA reiterated its commitment to building a cleaner, safer, and more resilient FCC through sustained investment in infrastructure maintenance, environmental management, and public service delivery.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Work going on at one of the streets.
