FCDA IS ALLOWING UNGUARDED RHETORICS GIVE POLITICAL LIFE TO A DISASTER EVENT

By AVM RTD AKUGBE IYAMU MNSA fsi

The FCDA has kept the flooding quagmire in the FCT alive through unguarded rhetorics and uncoordinated or hesitating to faithfully implement strategies to deal or prevent another flooding.

Assuming for the sake of argument and illustration that the removal of structures on the relief lines are not sufficient, what will be the fate of the recent approvals of green areas and spaces? Does it then suggest the the recent allocation of green areas and spaces cannot be stopped, revoked or pulled down.

The promise of the removal of some structures from the waterways is too meagre, too little and too late. It has been poorly and shamefully implemented without any commitment to evacuate the sprawling refuse across the city or clear the drainage systems and waterways. All these have been half hearted.

The sad reality is that these factors have combined to make the contention of flooding a live debate of potential election consequences and political electoral issues. So far, the FCDA plans are not novel, not practical and wont be significantly helpful in addressing the problem. I think it is too small and too late and the indiscretionary selection of structures will inevitably put the citizens it was supposed to be appealing to in harm’s way and greater risk.

For me, such plans are based on many ill conceived and non digested ideas and shaky assumptions that real limited knowledge of the masterplan and how nature and disaster management systems operate.

For a start, the citizens want to know the number, position and statuses of these structures. Who approved the construction and the owners of the structures that are earmarked for demolition. If there are no political will to address all these in totality structures on the waterways or relief lines then the execution will be a futile attempt.

We do not need a genius to make us realise that the current approach will further enhance the flooding quagmire of the FCT as the arrangement is sure to collapse. The FCDA appears to assume that the state capacity to pull down structures exists and even when it exists, deploying it partially may not be sensible. Removal of selective structures will only have minimal impact against the destruction of green areas and spaces including relief lines. Such efforts can not sunset the current situation in the FCT.

Development on it’s own is not bad but the FCT experience since 2023 shows that compromising the green spaces, areas and flood lines is regressive, damaging and wasteful and represent an ineffective way of actualising a city masterplan. There are many different things to do in order to correct the distortion of the city masterplan and provide solutions to the current existential crisis in the FCT.

The answers are not just about the removal of selective structures but must align with the original layout and masterplan of the FCT.

AVM RTD AKUGBE IYAMU MNSA fsi
PRESIDENT ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE PRACTITIONERS

CONSULTANT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ANALYST ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AND COMMENTATOR ON NATIONAL ISSUES

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