Akwa Ibom Erupts: Residents Protest as Devastating Flooding Grips Community

Several communities in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, faced severe flooding on Thursday following hours of torrential rainfall. The intense downpour, which began on Wednesday evening, continued heavily into the early hours of Thursday, causing widespread destruction of homes, household property, and livestock. Affected areas included Nkemba and its adjoining streets, Abak Road, Ukana Offot, Port Harcourt Street, Tabernacle Road, Osongama, and Nsikak Eduok Avenue, leading to significant disruption and resident protests.

The devastating impact of the flood prompted angry residents of Tabernacle Road to barricade the busy Ikot Ekpene Road, a major interstate highway connecting Akwa Ibom with Abia and Cross River states. This action disrupted traffic and served as a potent protest against what residents described as governmental neglect and the prolonged delay in completing the Tabernacle Road project, which they believe exacerbated the flooding in their communities. Residents recounted harrowing experiences, with floodwaters inundating homes and destroying valuable belongings. Udeme Ubong, a local resident, lamented the unbearable suffering over eight years due to abandoned road construction, stating, "Anytime it rains heavily, water enters our homes and destroys our property." Ubong further revealed losing 462 chickens to flooding last year and expressed concern that his family might be displaced again due to current losses, vowing to march to Government House if no action is taken.

Beyond Tabernacle Road, residents of Nkemba also voiced their grievances, primarily blaming years of poor drainage maintenance for the catastrophic floods. They alleged that the recent flooding tragically resulted in one death and hospitalisation for two others. According to Nkemba residents, the government had previously agreed to annually evacuate accumulated silt from the area's major drainage corridor after channelling stormwater into it; however, this commitment was reportedly not honoured. This failure has led to a significant reduction in the drainage channel's capacity, which serves as a runoff point for several surrounding communities before emptying into a ravine. Prior observations by PREMIUM TIMES in June confirmed that substantial sections of the Nkemba drainage corridor were already heavily silted, foreshadowing the impending peak rainy season.

Visual evidence, including videos shared by broadcasting organisation ADBN TV, depicted the severe extent of the flooding, showing homes along Abak Road, Nkemba, Ukana Offot, and Port Harcourt Street completely inundated. The footage confirmed numerous residential buildings submerged, and one particularly stark image showed a dead goat, reportedly killed by the flood, being carried by one of the protesting residents, highlighting the profound loss experienced by the community.

The persistent flooding has brought renewed scrutiny to the long-delayed 2.2-kilometre Tabernacle Road project and its associated 0.97-kilometre underground outfall drain, which traverses Uyo and Itu Local Government Areas. The project was initially awarded in 2018 under the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel to Zastros Engineering Construction Company. Residents reported that the contractor excavated drains and deposited laterite but then abandoned the project after approximately seven months, leaving the road in a worse condition than before. Between 2019 and 2023, the project remained largely stalled despite repeated complaints from the affected communities.

The current administration of Governor Umo Eno re-awarded the contract for the Tabernacle Road project to Nsik Construction in February 2024. However, progress has continued to be slow, prompting concern from the governor himself. During a media briefing in May, Governor Eno publicly stated that the contract would be terminated by July if the contractor failed to complete the project, noting that "The road was awarded to my own townsman, Nsik Motors. I met him as a contractor. A good one at that. He bidded for the job and won."

The recurring flooding also raises significant questions regarding the effective implementation of flood-control projects, especially in light of substantial budgetary allocations. An analysis by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that the Akwa Ibom State Government appropriated N2.5 billion in the 2026 budget specifically for "drainages, canal desilting and flood control in Uyo metropolis and environs," to be managed by the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA). Additionally, N20.03 million was budgeted for the Akwa Ibom State Road Maintenance Agency for the removal and evacuation of debris from drainage channels in Uyo. The Tabernacle Road project itself has received considerable funding under the current administration, with N1.58 billion budgeted in 2023, N1 billion in 2024, and N3 billion in 2025.

Despite these allocations, the state's 2024 Budget Performance Report indicated that N646.97 billion was spent between January and September 2024, though it lacked specific project-level expenditure details. The state has not yet published a detailed budget performance report for 2025. It is noteworthy that Akwa Ibom maintains a strong fiscal position, with N397.51 billion available for spending in the first quarter of 2026. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had also issued warnings earlier this year, predicting above-normal rainfall and increased flood risk for several parts of the country, including Akwa Ibom.

In response to the crisis, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, acknowledged the government's awareness of the stormwater flooding. Mr. Umanah stated that Governor Eno had directed contractors to immediately move into severely affected areas to undertake remedial work to improve water flow. He also confirmed that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Ministry of Environment, and AKSEPWMA had been mobilised to assess the affected communities and determine necessary immediate interventions. While addressing the causes, Mr. Umanah attributed a significant portion of the problem to the "indiscriminate blockage of drainage channels," warning that "Anyone caught blocking drains will be dealt with." He further assured that drainage desilting is undertaken periodically and would continue according to government schedules. Regarding compensation or emergency relief for affected residents, Mr. Umanah indicated that the government must first identify and assess those impacted before any intervention. On the progress of the Tabernacle Road contract, he reported that the Ministry of Works indicated Nsik Construction had intensified work on the project.

Providing further clarification, Prince Ikim, the Chairman of AKSEPWMA, addressed questions regarding the N2.5 billion appropriated in the 2026 budget for drainage and flood control. He stressed the distinction between "budgetary provisions, approval and release," implying that the funds are not immediately available to the agency. When pressed on whether any part of this allocation had been released, Mr. Ikim did not provide a direct answer. He explained that responsibility for major drainage projects had been assigned to two separate government committees, one headed by the Commissioner for Works and the other by the Deputy Governor, and that large-scale desilting operations do not fall directly under his supervision.

Regarding residents' claims of the government's failure to honour an agreement for annual desilting of the Nkemba drainage channel, Prince Ikim stated that he had personally supervised desilting works in the area previously, including sections around Abak Road and Nkemba. However, he maintained he was unaware of any formal agreement committing the government to annual desilting. He further elaborated that a government committee on desilting had indeed identified Nkemba, Mbikpong, and Nwaniba, among other flood-prone locations, as priority areas requiring intervention. Mr. Ikim emphasized the technical complexities of effective desilting, explaining that it necessitates specialized engineering work that must commence from the drainage outfall before progressing upstream into the city. He also noted that certain locations, such as Mbikpong, require specialized sand-pumping equipment, which must be sourced from Port Harcourt, further contributing to the complexity and logistical challenges of the work.