A worsening erosion menace in Unguwar Wadada II Extension, Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has forced several families to flee their homes after parts of the community were consumed by expanding gullies.
Over the years, residents say the gully has widened and deepened, destroying houses and displacing families without any meaningful intervention from the authorities. Many of those affected are now seeking refuge with relatives or struggling to pay for rented accommodation.
When *Abuja Metro* visited the community over the weekend, residents described the situation as life-threatening, warning that more buildings could collapse if urgent measures are not taken. Malam Aliyu Ibrahim, who lost his home last year, now stays with a neighbour. He recalled how residents had previously pooled money to hire truck drivers to dump refuse into the gully in a desperate attempt to slow its spread, but the effort failed.
Another victim, Mrs. Aisha Idris, said half of her building had already been destroyed. She expressed frustration that repeated letters to local authorities had gone unanswered. In a similar account, Malam Yakubu Alhassan, who narrowly escaped disaster when his house collapsed, said he managed to move his family and belongings just moments before the structure gave way.
Community leaders also lamented that the erosion has cut off some residents from accessing Abaji town, especially on market days. Alhaji Gana Abdullahi, chairman of the Unguwar Wadada community, said attempts to engage the council last year did not produce any results. He called on the FCT administration to collaborate with the ecological fund office of the presidency to provide a lasting solution.
An official from Abaji council’s works department confirmed that Chairman Alhaji Abubakar Umar Abdullahi had been briefed on the matter and was expected to visit the affected area soon.
