The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Department (FEMD) has dismissed claims that two persons lost their lives in the floods that submerged houses at the Trademore Estate in Lugbe, Abuja, on Monday.
A video trending earlier on social media suggested that two people were swept away by the floods at the popular estate.
However, FEMD’s Acting Director General, Mrs. Florence Dawon Wenegieme, after assessing the affected areas, declared that no lives were lost.
She said, “We did not receive any distress call from Trade More. We saw the viral video and we went there to carry out an assessment. We interviewed some residents and they confirmed that no life was lost to the floods.”
She stated that FEMD had activated the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), FCT Fire Service, Department of Development Control, and Department of Engineering Services in response to the incident.
According to Wenegieme, the houses submerged by the floods were part of the 116 structures marked for demolition in 2023 when Trademore was declared a disaster zone.
She revealed that FCTA’s efforts to remove the structures were halted by a court injunction filed by residents of the estate.
The Acting DG also expressed concern over a primary school, accommodating about 500 pupils, management, and staff, that is situated on the water channel, describing it as a disaster waiting to happen.
She noted that some structures previously demolished by the Department of Development Control have been rebuilt or renovated by their owners.
Wenegieme appealed to residents in houses marked for demolition at Trade More to relocate and advised the estate’s owner to provide the necessary infrastructure to prevent future flash floods that may lead to loss of lives at the Estate.
The Ag DG appealed to residents to use the 112 emergency toll-free number or 08057224574, 08188888766 in case of any emergency.
