18/08/2026
We are flooding because we forgot to design for water!
The rains are here again. And with them, the same story!
Homes underwater, roads washed away, families displaced and farmlands destroyed.
Yes, the rainfall is heavy. But let’s be honest rain is not the only reason we are flooding.
The truth is painful, many of our roads and communities were built without respecting water.
Before any road is built, 3 things must be done. We sometimes, don’t attach so much importance to them. Hydrology Study
How much water will fall here in 10 years? 50 years?
We don’t calculate peak runoff. So we’re surprised when the drains overflow.
Secondly, Hydraulic Design
This is designing culverts, drainage channels, and bridges that are big enough to carry that water.
Right now, many are too small, blocked, or placed in the wrong spot. The water has no exit.
And the third one . Proper Slope & Grading
Water must flow. Roads and drainages need the right slope so water moves away from people’s homes.
When slope is ignored, the road becomes a wall. A dam. And the water goes into where it is not supposed to.
When you ignore these 3, you’re not building a road. You’re building a flood path.
The Human Part
It’s not just concrete and calculations.
We plan roads for cars. But we forget to plan for rain. And every rainy season, people pay the price.
Going forward
1. Enforce design standards. No road project without hydrology, hydraulic , and slope report signed off
2. Desilt and maintain drainage before rainy season, not after
3. Community input is also key in road construction.
Engineers should ask people, where does water go when it rains here? The answer is usually already known
4. Accountability Climate change means rains will get heavier. Our designs must get smarter
We cannot keep praying for less rain. We must design for more water.
Because flooding is not just an act of God.
Sometimes, it’s an act of omission.
Ladi Ahmed Jatto. OON
