Flood submerges Abuja suburb

There was pandemonium in Abuja yesterday  following a downpour that  left the popular Trademore estate submerged in flood.  Property  worth hundreds of millions of naira  was destroyed by the heavy rain which started as early as 6am.

When our correspondent visited the scene, residents of the estate were seen running from pillar to post and looking confused on what to do.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed to reporters at the estate that a Peugeot 406 driver with registration no. YLA 681 FS drowned in the flood and was still missing at Imo Street of the Estate. Four other persons according to NEMA were rescued and in stable condition.

Residents of the estate were seen during the downpour making frantic efforts to salvage their property after their houses had been submerged by the flood.

Trademore Estate has over the years suffered from a series of devastating effects of flooding with lives and property worth billions of naira lost.

As at the time of filing this report, stakeholders responding to the flood are NEMA, Fire Service, FCT FEMA, Red Cross and Federal Ministry of Environment-Flood department respectively.

An eyewitness who is also a resident, Sunday Ibrahim, said: “It is expected, this estate has been known for flooding. Many houses were demolished in the past, but people have started building on rain channels despite warnings from concerned authorities.

“I hope many will listen this time and move to where has been allocated to them to further avert crisis.”   

Another resident who gave his name as Samuel Omole said some cars were swept away by the flood.

He blamed the incident on the promoters of an estate in the area who channeled water towards their side.

Omole said: “It rained heavily this morning and before we knew it, houses were flooded. A man who came to buy drugs from the pharmacy here stayed inside his car for the rain to subside. The car later got submerged. But thank God the man got out of the car.

“I am trying to salvage my belongings. The flood was caused by an estate promoter who channeled water towards our side. If something is not done quickly to address this, what has happened would be a tip of the iceberg.”

Meanwhile, the Director General (DG) of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),Dr Abbas Idriss confirmed that no life was lost in the incident

In a statement issued by the Head of Public Affairs, FEMA, Nkechi Isa, the FEMA boss disclosed that 116 houses were submerged during the heavy floods.

Idriss explained that the flood at Trademore Estate was caused by infractions on the water channel, and appealed to residents whose houses were built on the water channel to relocate.

According to him, Trademore is on the water channel and therefore, vulnerable to floods.

He stated that the floods had receded and therefore, appreciated all stakeholders, residents and residents for their efforts and cooperation at Trademore Estate to ensure that no life was lost.

He dismissed as untrue social 

media reports alleging that a resident of the estate was missing during the floods.

Idriss said the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had predicted heavy floods in the FCT, this rainy season.He urged residents to always use the 112 Emergency toll free number in the event of an emergency.

The Nation