The Federal Capital Territory Administration has begun clearing drainage channels following flooding along Abuja’s Airport Expressway, with officials identifying refuse dumping, illegal development and vandalism among the factors affecting stormwater flow.

The intervention followed heavy rainfall that caused flash flooding along parts of the Airport Expressway on Tuesday.

Richard Dauda, Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, said the administration had commenced city-wide desilting and clearance of drainage channels, culverts and waterways.

Dauda spoke while inspecting ongoing work along the Airport Expressway.

He said Abuja’s drainage infrastructure had originally been designed to cope with substantial quantities of stormwater.

But he said human activities had compromised the effectiveness of some drainage facilities.

One of the most direct problems identified by the official was indiscriminate refuse dumping.

Dauda said residents dumping waste into drainage channels contribute to siltation.

When heavy rain falls, waste such as polythene bags and other objects can be carried into drainage outlets, where they obstruct the flow of water.

The official urged residents to stop dumping refuse in drainage channels and waterways.

But waste disposal was not the only problem identified.

Dauda also pointed to illegal development around waterways.

He cited a triple-cell box culvert along the Airport Expressway designed to discharge a large volume of water coming from the Galadima Roundabout.

According to him, a private developer had constructed retaining walls downstream to extend a private plot.

The walls narrowed the waterway and restricted the movement of stormwater.

Dauda said the restriction could cause water detention, backflow and flooding.

He said the structures would need to be removed to restore the required discharge capacity.

Vandalism of drainage infrastructure is another concern.

Dauda said metal gully inlet covers had been stolen in some locations.

When those covers are removed, he explained, large debris can enter underground drainage channels instead of being screened at the surface.

The FCDA is therefore exploring alternative materials that could replace steel and cast-iron drainage covers and make them less attractive to vandals.

The administration has already begun physical work to restore drainage capacity.

Workers are desilting trapezoidal drains, U-channels and culvert outlets along the Airport Expressway.

Damaged sections will also be reconstructed where necessary.

The operation is part of a city-wide response directed by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The minister had earlier said the administration was investigating the causes of the recent flooding.

Wike disclosed that a director in the FCDA had been suspended under civil service rules over alleged illegal approvals for construction on waterways.

He said the administration intended to hold officials and developers accountable where violations of the Abuja Master Plan were established.

The minister also said another official had faced disciplinary action over an alleged illegal reallocation of park land.

Officials were directed to inspect affected areas, including Airport Road and Lokogoma.

Wike said the investigation would establish the extent to which human activities, including illegal construction and obstruction of waterways, contributed to flooding.

The administration has also stressed that some areas of Abuja are naturally vulnerable to flooding.

According to Dauda, the Abuja Master Plan recognises some locations, including sections of the Airport Expressway corridor, as flood plains.

He nevertheless said drainage facilities were designed to accommodate substantial volumes of stormwater.

The issue, according to the FCTA, is that the efficiency of some facilities has been reduced by human interference.

The recent flooding has consequently placed attention on both infrastructure maintenance and compliance with planning regulations.

The FCTA says clearing the drains will help restore the movement of water, while enforcement against illegal construction and vandalism is needed to protect the drainage network.

Dauda appealed to residents to cooperate with authorities by keeping waste away from drainage channels.

He also warned residents and developers against unauthorised construction on waterways and drainage corridors.

The administration said effective flood management in Abuja requires cooperation between government agencies and residents, particularly during the peak of the rainy season.