Abuja Flooding Sparks Fresh Criticism Of Wike

Heavy rainfall triggered widespread criticism of Abuja and Wike across the Federal Capital Territory this week, as floodwaters swept through several districts and left motorists and residents stranded for hours.

A widely shared video on X showed parts of Wuse 2 submerged, including Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, the bridge near City Park, a plaza, and multiple vehicles caught in rising water.

The flooding was not limited to Wuse 2. It also affected:

• Wuse Zone 1
• Katampe
• Durumi
• Gwarinpa
• Gaduwa
• Gudu

Residents and drivers were left stranded in several areas until the floodwater eventually receded.

The incident triggered a wave of reactions on X, with many users blaming FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for what they describe as the abandonment of the Abuja Master Plan.

One user, Chude, laid out the criticism in detail.

"Abuja is sinking. The planned capital of Nigeria, one of three purpose-built capitals in West Africa and the newest there, was never meant to flood. Standards were high, and every detail was considered in the master plan," he wrote.

He went further, pointing to specific infrastructure concerns.

"Major drainages are blocked, sewage spills out daily, canals have been narrowed for estates, and green areas have been sold to estate companies by this government. This is the story of the capital that was never meant to flood," Chude added.

Another user, Everest, voiced similarly sharp criticism of the minister's leadership, arguing that the city's original planning discipline has broken down since he took office.

Others echoed the concern over how unusual this level of flooding is for the capital.

"The flooding in Abuja should be a serious concern for all of us. I honestly don't think I've ever seen it this bad, especially with flooding now occurring in areas where we've never experienced it before. This is worrying and deserves urgent attention," Mohammed Jummal wrote.

Theo Abu Agada tied the flooding directly to broader complaints about land use policy under the current administration.

"This is the evil APC has done to our city. We have been complaining about Wike selling our green areas to developers, and some people here say we were hating on him," he wrote.

Beyond the social media reaction, town planning and engineering experts have repeatedly pointed to a combination of factors behind Abuja's worsening flood pattern: clogged and poorly maintained drainage channels, illegal structures built on waterways, shrinking green spaces, and rainfall patterns intensified by this year's El Niño weather system. Some affected districts, including parts of the FCT hit this week, have reportedly experienced flooding multiple times already this rainy season.

As of this report, neither Minister Wike nor the FCT Administration has issued a public response to the flooding or the criticism circulating online. Emergency officials have also not confirmed the full extent of the damage or how many households were affected.