In a torrential downpour on Friday, at least 116 houses at the popular Trademore Estate in Lugbe, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were submerged and property worth hundreds of millions of naira was damaged.
Dr. Abbas G.Idriss, Director General of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), verified this in a statement on Friday.
According to the rescue agency, four more people were recovered and were in stable condition.
During the downpour, residents of the estate were observed struggling to preserve their lives and recover their valuables 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.
Stakeholders that responded 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.
Ada Peter
