Residents recount ordeals as flood submerges 116 houses in FCT estate

At least 116 houses at the popular Trademore Estate in Lugbe, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were submerged while property worth hundreds of millions of naira was damaged in a heavy downpour on Friday.

Director General of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Dr Abbas G.Idriss, confirmed this in a statement on Friday.

Four other persons were rescued and were in stable condition, according to the rescue agency.

Residents of the estate were seen during the downpour, trying to save their lives and salvage their property after their houses were submerged.

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

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Occupants of the estate however heaved a sigh of relief during the 2022 rainy season as they were not affected by flood despite the heavy rainfalls recorded in the year.

The owner of the estate had carried out re-engineering remediation work which ensured the expansion of gutters and demolition of building standing along flood plains.

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

Idris said the floods were caused by infractions on the water channel and appealed to residents whose houses are built on the water channel to relocate.

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

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

Noting that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency NIHSA had predicted heavy floods in the FCT, this rainy season, he appealed to residents of the Estate whose houses sit on the water channel to relocate.

The FEMA boss urged residents to always use the 112 Emergency toll-free number in the event of an emergency.

Meanwhile, residents of the estate have recounted their ordeals and losses following the disaster.

A resident, Pius Bimbo, said he almost lost his pregnant wife to the flood, describing the experience as terrible.

“My wife is very heavy; and even this morning, was complaining of stomach pain. I said if it’s a labour, maybe later in the day, we would go to the hospital; then all of a sudden, this flood happened. We had to drag her to a safer place, and before you could say, Jack Robinson, the water was at our neck level. It’s was terrible experience for her. As I am speaking to you now, I don’t know her situation because she is somewhere because we don’t have anywhere to stay,” he said.

Another resident, Ashedu Gloria, said she lost properties worth millions of naira to the flood.

She said measures against flood should have been considered when developing the area.

“It happens every year and there is no solution; it is a pity. When they were developing the area they should have put this thing into consideration. The drainage system is very important. This place is a very sloppy area and they didn’t consider that.

“Demolition of the area is not a solution because it would come again as there won’t be more houses to stop the water again. They should look for a permanent solution to this problem,’’ she said.

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