A former Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) and ex-Southeast spokesperson for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Josef Onoh, has attributed the recent flooding in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to widespread illegal construction along waterways and blocked drainage channels.

Heavy rainfall on Monday left several parts of Abuja submerged, with residents sharing footage of flooded roads and stranded vehicles across affected districts.

Onoh, who also chairs the Forum of Former Enugu State House of Assembly Members, said the situation was not merely the result of intense rainfall but a consequence of unchecked development on floodplains and obstruction of natural water pathways.

He described the development as a growing environmental risk, warning that Abuja could face a worsening crisis if immediate corrective measures are not taken.

The former ECTDA chairman said he had previously raised concerns about the gradual blockage of waterways within the FCT, but said those warnings were not acted upon.

He urged the Federal Government to direct the FCT administration to carry out a full audit of all encroached flood channels and drainage systems across the capital.

Onoh specifically called for the identification and removal of illegal structures built on waterways, alongside large-scale clearing and rehabilitation of drainage infrastructure in flood-prone areas.

He also recommended stricter enforcement of environmental regulations to prevent further construction on restricted zones, stressing that weak compliance had worsened flooding incidents in the city.

The former official noted that he was willing to offer his expertise without charge to support demolition and recovery efforts, drawing on his experience managing a similar development agency in Enugu State.

He warned that failure to act decisively could put lives and infrastructure at greater risk, adding that continued flooding could eventually disrupt transportation, public utilities and daily life in the capital city.

Flooding has remained a recurring challenge in Abuja during rainy seasons, with experts frequently linking the problem to poor drainage systems, rapid urban expansion, and construction on natural waterways.