The FCT Stakeholders Forum for Development (FSTF) has passed a vote of confidence in the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, while calling for urgent measures to tackle recurring flooding in Abuja.
The forum, made up of landlords, business owners and investors, made the call at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
Speaking on behalf of the group, its Chairman, Chief David Sabo Kente, said recent flooding across parts of the Federal Capital Territory required immediate government intervention.
He said the forum’s assessment showed that the flooding was caused by a combination of rapid urban expansion, blocked drainage systems, indiscriminate refuse dumping and other human activities.
“Flooding is no longer an isolated incident. Communities that never experienced such levels of inundation are now vulnerable. Homes have been submerged, roads cut off, and livelihoods disrupted,” Kente said.
However, the FSTF rejected claims that the flooding was solely a result of the current FCT administration, saying Abuja had experienced flooding incidents long before Wike became minister.
The group also argued that the 1979 Abuja Master Plan had become outdated and no longer adequately reflected the population and infrastructure needs of the FCT.
According to Kente, Abuja now has more than 3.5 million residents, making an urgent review and modernisation of the Master Plan necessary.
The forum also identified the removal of drainage covers by scavengers and indiscriminate waste disposal as factors contributing to blocked waterways.
FSTF Praises Wike’s Projects
Despite its concerns over flooding, the FSTF expressed strong support for Wike’s administration, citing what it described as extensive infrastructure development across Abuja and the satellite towns.
Kente listed the construction and expansion of roads, flyovers, public schools, bus terminals and rural healthcare facilities among the projects undertaken by the administration.
He described Wike as “Mr Project”, saying his administration had turned the FCT into a major construction zone aimed at improving economic and social activities.
The forum said the minister had approached governance with the belief that “infrastructure is the supreme engine of economic survival.”
While commending the administration, the FSTF urged Wike to take immediate action to address flooding in the capital.
It called for the desilting of drainage systems, stronger enforcement against encroachment on waterways and a comprehensive review of the Abuja Master Plan.
The group also urged the FCT Administration to ensure that development projects followed due process to prevent unnecessary hardship for residents.
“With political will, stakeholder collaboration, and proper planning, Abuja can become both a model capital and a flood-resilient city,” Kente said.
The FSTF said it remained committed to working with the FCT Administration to improve infrastructure, security and the living conditions of residents.
