Abuja Flooding: Agbese Defends Wike, Says Residents Must Share Responsibility
ABUJA — Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has defended Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike amid criticism over recent flooding in Abuja, arguing that the challenge cannot be blamed entirely on the FCT Administration when human activities, particularly indiscriminate waste disposal and blockage of waterways, remain major concerns.
Agbese, who spoke with journali
sts in Abuja on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, maintained that assessing Wike’s performance solely on flooding incidents would ignore the infrastructure projects being undertaken across the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the lawmaker, government has a responsibility to provide and maintain drainage and other critical infrastructure, but residents must equally protect public facilities and desist from practices capable of worsening flooding.
Agbese: Abuja Flooding Requires Collective Responsibility
Agbese said rapid population growth, expanding development and increasing pressure on infrastructure mean that addressing flooding in Abuja requires cooperation between government agencies and residents.
He particularly identified the dumping of refuse into drainage channels and waterways as a practice that can prevent stormwater from flowing freely during heavy rainfall.
The lawmaker therefore urged residents to stop turning drainage channels into refuse dumps and encouraged communities to report blocked or encroached waterways to the appropriate authorities.
His position is that Abuja flooding should be treated as a shared urban-management challenge rather than merely an opportunity for political blame.
At the same time, Agbese urged the FCT Administration to sustain investment in drainage and flood-control infrastructure and strengthen enforcement against illegal dumping and encroachment on waterways.
Wike’s Abuja Infrastructure Projects Highlighted
Defending Wike’s record, Agbese pointed to ongoing and completed road, transportation and infrastructure projects across Abuja and the satellite towns.
He claimed that the FCT Administration has completed 221 kilometres of the 317 kilometres of roads awarded in satellite towns since the beginning of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Agbese also cited projects including the Gwarinpa-Jahi Interchange, Airport-Kuje Road, Kuje-Gwagwalada Road and sections of the Outer Southern Expressway as examples of infrastructure interventions undertaken by the administration.
The lawmaker argued that these projects should form part of any balanced assessment of Wike’s performance as FCT minister.
‘Government Cannot Do Everything Alone’
Agbese further maintained that residents should regard themselves as partners in Abuja’s development rather than expecting government alone to address every environmental challenge.
He argued that constructing roads and drainage systems would have limited impact if waterways are subsequently obstructed by refuse or affected by unauthorised developments.
According to him, responsible citizenship must therefore complement government investment.
The position adds another dimension to the debate surrounding flooding in the nation’s capital, where heavy rainfall can expose weaknesses in drainage systems, waste management and development control.
While critics may continue to demand greater action from the FCT Administration, Agbese’s intervention suggests that preventing future flooding will require both stronger government infrastructure and better environmental practices among residents.
Agbese Calls for Constructive Criticism
The House deputy spokesman said legitimate criticism of government should not be discouraged, but argued that such criticism should recognise areas where progress has been recorded.
He described Wike’s approach to infrastructure development as transformative and maintained that the minister should be judged by the broader record of projects being delivered across the territory.
However, Agbese also acknowledged the need to address areas requiring improvement, particularly drainage and flood-control infrastructure.
His intervention effectively places responsibility on both sides: the FCT Administration must continue improving drainage, enforcing development regulations and maintaining infrastructure, while residents must stop practices that obstruct waterways and increase flood risks.
As Abuja continues to expand, the recurring flooding challenge is likely to remain an important test of urban planning and environmental management.
Ultimately, reducing the impact of flooding will require more than political arguments over who should take the blame. It will demand functioning drainage systems, effective waste management, enforcement against building or dumping on waterways and cooperation from millions of people who live and work across the Federal Capital Territory.
