A’Ibom Govt Sues For Collective Measures Against Flooding

… Sympathises With Flood Victims
By Bassey Nkponam 
UYO 
The government of Akwa Ibom has called for collective measures to check flooding, as it sympathised with families and individuals affected by the recent flash-flood in parts of the State.
The State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, who stated this Friday, while fielding questions from Government House correspondents shortly on his arrival at the Victor Attah International Airport (VAIA) from official engagements outside the State, called for concerted efforts to prevent re-occurrence.
Eno described the incident as unfortunate, and assured that government has put modalities in place to manage the situation.
He said while government was committed to its responsibilities, all hands must be on deck to prevent re-occurrence, by desilting drainage channels in front of people’s residences and business premises, and maintaining a clean environment.
The governor appealed to citizens and residents of Akwa Ibom to take responsibility for keeping drainage channels free of refuse, stressing that the fight against flash-floods currently affecting parts of the state requires a collective effort by government and citizens.
He made known that similar flash-floods have occurred in Abuja, Lagos and other parts of the country despite warnings issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), making it imperative for residents to complement government’s intervention by maintaining clean surroundings.
Eno identified indiscriminate disposal of refuse into gutters and drainage channels as one of the major causes of urban flooding, lamenting that many residents watch drains around their homes become clogged while waiting for government to clear them.
According to him, environmental sanitation should not be viewed as a government exercise alone but as a civic responsibility, recalling that communities traditionally came together to clear drains and maintain their environment long before modern sanitation agencies were established.
Eno explained that while the State government will continue to undertake large-scale desilting of major canals and storm-water channels, residents must ensure that drains in front of their homes and business premises remain free of debris to allow easy flow of floodwater.
He also urged residents to heed weather advisories and flood warnings issued by relevant agencies, as prevention remains the most effective response to flash flooding.
Eno reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, assuring that government has already directed the immediate deployment of construction firms and relevant agencies to flood-prone communities to evacuate storm water, desilt blocked drainage channels and restore access to affected areas.