Abuja Flooding Predates Wike’s Tenure, FCT Minister’s Aide Tackles Adeyanju

The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has dismissed criticism of the FCT Administration following flooding recorded in parts of Abuja after a heavy downpour on Saturday.

Olayinka argued that flooding in the nation’s capital predates Wike’s tenure as FCT Minister, describing attempts to blame the minister for the latest incident as misleading.

In a statement issued on Monday and titled: “Deji Adeyanju and his Gang of Flooded Brains,” Olayinka accused lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju of exploiting the flooding to attack the FCT Administration.

He said the heavy rainfall resulted in flooding in some parts of the capital, but the affected areas were subsequently cleared as the water receded.

According to him, the administration is aware of the flooding challenge and has been taking measures to address its underlying causes and prevent future occurrences.

Olayinka said it was unfair to conclude that Wike had “destroyed Abuja” based on the latest flooding.

“It is funny that characters like this Online Baseless Lawyer, who is always looking for attention, has been shouting ‘Wike has destroyed Abuja’ since yesterday, as if last Saturday was the first time some areas in Abuja got flooded,” he said.

The FCT official questioned whether Wike could reasonably be held responsible for flooding incidents that occurred in Abuja before his appointment as minister.

“When there was flood in Abuja in 2019, as reported in the media, was it Wike that caused it?” he asked.

Olayinka cited previous flooding incidents in parts of the capital, saying areas including Wuse, Jabi and Lokogoma were affected by heavy rainfall in 2019.

He added that similar incidents were recorded in Lokogoma, Efab Estate, Gudu and some connecting bridges in 2022.

“Sad reality is that Abuja has been witnessing floods long before Wike assumed office,” Olayinka said.

He attributed the recurring flooding partly to the rapid expansion of Abuja, arguing that drainage infrastructure, waste management systems and enforcement of urban planning regulations had not kept pace with the city’s growth.

The minister’s aide also raised concerns over the activities of scavengers, whom he accused of removing drainage covers and thereby allowing refuse to enter and block drainage channels.

“It is also a pointer to damages being caused by scavengers who are daily stealing drainage covers, thereby exposing the drainage to refuse,” he said.

Olayinka said the FCT Administration was reviewing the 1979 Abuja Master Plan to reflect the changing realities of the capital city and address challenges associated with its rapid development.

He further disclosed that the administration had begun deploying drainage covers designed to make them more difficult for scavengers to remove.

While defending the administration’s response to the flooding, Olayinka also criticised Adeyanju’s understanding of Abuja’s urban planning challenges.

He alleged that the lawyer had previously defended an individual who constructed a school and church on land originally designated for recreational purposes.

Olayinka questioned Adeyanju’s understanding of the complexities of urban planning in the Federal Capital Territory, describing him as an “Online Baseless Lawyer.”

“But can an Online Baseless Lawyer, who studied Late Night Law understand this? I don’t think so,” he said.

Olayinka maintained that Saturday’s flooding should be viewed against the backdrop of Abuja’s long-standing drainage and urban planning challenges, rather than attributed solely to the current FCT Administration.

He stressed that the administration remained focused on addressing infrastructure gaps, improving drainage systems and ensuring that the city’s development kept pace with its growing population and expanding urban landscape.