Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The war of words over Abuja's recurring flood crisis has escalated dramatically, with the Federal Capital Territory Administration and a prominent activist trading sharp accusations as residents grapple with the devastation caused by Saturday's heavy downpour. Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has launched a blistering counterattack against lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju, insisting that the flooding problem in the nation's capital predates Wike's tenure and dismissing calls for the minister's accountability as a politically motivated distraction. But as videos of submerged vehicles and stranded commuters continue to circulate online, the question on everyone's lips remains: can the administration truly absolve itself of responsibility for a crisis that has turned Abuja's streets into rivers?
Adeyanju had ignited the controversy with a series of posts on his verified X handle, accusing Wike of destroying Abuja and alleging that the capital had become "stinking and flooded" because of what he described as "one man's greed." He also questioned the alleged allocation of canals and waterways to politicians for estate development, pointing specifically to the flooding in Maitama and other parts of the city as evidence of a systemic failure. The activist's criticism struck a nerve, coming as it did on the heels of a downpour that submerged luxury vehicles in Wuse 2, stranded motorists in Gudu and Katampe, and exposed the vulnerability of a city that was once a model of urban planning.
But Olayinka was having none of it. In a statement titled "Deji Adeyanju and his Gang of Flooded Brains," the minister's aide dismissed the criticism as the rantings of an "Online Baseless Lawyer" who was "always looking for attention." He challenged Adeyanju to explain why similar flooding incidents recorded in Abuja before Wike became FCT Minister were not attributed to him. "When there was flood in Abuja in 2019, as reported in the media, was it Wike that caused it?" Olayinka asked. He recalled that heavy rainfall had flooded parts of Wuse, Jabi and Lokogoma in 2019, while similar incidents occurred in Lokogoma district, Efab Estate, the Gudu axis and adjoining bridges in 2022. "The sad reality is that Abuja has been witnessing floods long before Wike assumed office," Olayinka declared.
The FCT aide also sought to broaden the blame beyond the minister, pointing to the activities of scavengers who, he alleged, routinely remove drainage covers, leaving the channels exposed to refuse and contributing to blockages. He said the FCT Administration was already taking steps to address the challenge, including a review of the 1979 Abuja Master Plan to reflect the current realities of the nation's capital. "Drainage covers that will be impossible for scavengers to remove are also being used," Olayinka added. He argued that the latest flooding was "another reminder of the seasonal reality of a rapidly expanding city with drainage infrastructure, waste management and enforcement of planning rules not keeping pace with growth."
Turning his criticism directly at Adeyanju, Olayinka accused him of inconsistency, recalling his past defence of a property developer who, according to him, built a school and church on land granted for recreational purposes. "He saw nothing wrong in collecting money to defend someone who contravened land use purpose," Olayinka said. The minister's aide maintained that rather than politicising every incident of flooding, attention should be focused on the structural challenges confronting Abuja, including drainage capacity, indiscriminate waste disposal, illegal development and the need to update the city's planning framework.
Adeyanju, however, has not backed down. In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, the activist called for a comprehensive review of land allocations and developments in designated green areas, arguing that the flooding was a direct consequence of the administration's failure to enforce the Abuja Master Plan. The exchange has reignited a broader debate about the state of Abuja's infrastructure and the accountability of political leaders, with many residents expressing frustration that the city's drainage systems have not kept pace with its rapid expansion.
As the floodwaters recede, the political storm shows no signs of abating. Olayinka's dismissal of Adeyanju's criticism as politically motivated may have succeeded in shifting the blame, but it has done little to address the underlying structural issues that have left Abuja vulnerable to flooding. For the residents who watched their vehicles disappear under muddy water, the question is not whether the flooding predates Wike, but whether the current administration is doing enough to prevent a recurrence. The FCT Administration has promised action, but for a city that was once a symbol of Nigeria's aspirations, the sight of its streets underwater is a painful reminder that the gap between promise and reality remains as wide as ever.
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