Thousands of residents in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, were left homeless after hours of heavy rainfall flooded homes, churches and businesses on Thursday.
The worst-hit areas included Abak Road, Nkemba Street, Uwah Street, Aka Itiam Street and Tabernacle Road, with videos showing entire buildings submerged. Angry residents in Tabernacle Road barricaded the Ikot Ekpene Road, a major highway linking Akwa Ibom to Abia and Cross River states, disrupting traffic in protest.
The flooding has renewed scrutiny of a stalled drainage project on Tabernacle Road, first awarded in 2018 and abandoned after roughly seven months. The state government appropriated ₦2.5 billion in its 2026 budget for drainage and flood control in Uyo, but the agency responsible could not confirm whether any of that funding had been released.
Governor Umo Eno has since directed emergency and environmental agencies to assess flood-prone communities and identify areas needing further intervention. Officials credited recent drainage investments with limiting damage in some parts of the city, even as residents blame poor construction and blocked waterways for the recurring disaster.
Also read: Manchester United signs £50 million deal for Andrey Santos
Leave feedback about this
You must be logged in to post a comment.