Flooding: Abuja residents advised to stay away from river banks and water courses

Federal Capital residents working and living around Central Area, Federal Secretariat, National Mosque, Wuse, Wuye, Wupa, Lugbe, Kuje, Airport Road, and Gwagwalada, as well as Kubwa, Gwagwa, Karmo, and Kuje have been advised to keep away from river banks and water courses because government plans to release water from two dams in the territory.
A public service announcement release Thursday identified the dams as Pedan and Lower Usuma dams.
Curiously, the announcement did not give the dates or times of the releases; but other sources advise residents to be alert during or after heavy downpours.
Such exercise in the past caused deaths and extensive damage in Kubwa, though authorities at the Lower Usuma Dam denied they were involved in past releases of excess water.
The full announcement from the water board reads: “The Management of FCT Water Board wishes to inform the public of the commencement of routine maintenance in Pedan Dam located around Aguiyi Ironsi cantonment, Asokoro district.
Consequent upon this, water will be released from the facility and this will increase flow in the water course passing through Central Area, Federal Secretariat, National Mosque, Wuse, Wuye, Wupa, Lugbe, Kuje, Airport Road and Gwagwalada.
“The maintenance work is to enable us accommodate the flood upstream occasioned by the recent continuous rainfall.
“Similarly, the natural overflow being experienced in Lower Usuma Dam, due to heavy downpour will lead to release of excess water from the dam’s outlet which will flow along water courses in Kubwa, Gwagwa, Karmo, Kuje, Airport Road as well as Gwagwalada.
“Residents of the above mentioned areas are therefore advised to stay away from river banks and water courses around them in order to avoid unforeseen accidents.”