Once synonymous with nightmares every rainy season, the Abobo district, located in northern Abidjan, can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Thanks to a vast urban drainage project led by a Chinese company, the chronic floods that paralyzed this densely populated area of over 1.5 million inhabitants are now just a bad memory.

Today, even after torrential downpours, the streets instantly return to their usual appearance. The water drains quickly, the roads remain passable, and the public spaces come back to life.

A large-scale project to change lives

The project, led by the Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina), is based on a dual approach: modernizing water management and improving living conditions.

Key figures for the project:

1. 7.7 kilometers of drainage network (open canals and culverts).
2. Road modernization: Complete paving of roads along canals.
3. Local infrastructure: Football and basketball pitches, green spaces, public toilets and street lighting.
4. Direct impact: Approximately 250,000 residents are now protected from flooding.

“The first phase focused on the drainage network. The second phase involved upgrading adjacent roads and delivering public infrastructure,” explains Zhang Lidong, project manager. “We have drastically reduced material losses and the risk of loss of life due to flooding.”

From daily ordeal to urban renewal

Abidjan's tropical climate brings two particularly intense rainy seasons. In Abobo, the lack of infrastructure turned every downpour into a disaster: roads cut off, houses flooded, mud and waste invading public spaces.

Now, the urban landscape has been transformed. Where once there was litter and wastewater, children now play football and families relax.

1. Onezy Sahi (23-year-old student): “Before, the neighborhood was constantly flooded. Since the work was completed, the flooding has decreased. It has become a nice and lively place where young people come to have fun. It's really great!”
2. Bienvenu Yovo (translator on the project since 2021): "There used to be nothing but ravines and floods here. Now, the water no longer stagnates and the homes are safe."

An economic boost for the community

Beyond environmental safety, this project has injected real local economic momentum on two levels:

1. Job creation: Throughout the construction phase, many local residents were recruited, enabling them to provide for their families.
2. The revival of local commerce: No longer isolated, neighborhood businesses are breathing again. Ziepe Soro, owner of a welding workshop, testifies: "The rain caused a lot of damage and drove customers away. Today, access to my workshop is easy, business is good, and I can feed my family."

While the rainy season is in full swing in Abidjan, the 7.7 kilometers of canals built in Abobo are proving their effectiveness, quietly but sustainably transforming the daily lives and future of its inhabitants.