By Ngozi Nwankwo
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Adam Kambari has tasked Stakeholders to brainstorm and provide possible solutions to avert annual erosion and flooding problems in the Federal Capital Territory FCT, particularly in the Trademore Estate, Lugbe.
Kambari said this at the Stakeholders meeting on the Annual Flooding at Lugbe Trademore Estate and Environs held in Abuja, yesterday.
The Permanent Secretary who was represented by the Director Special Duties in his office, Mrs. Adelopo Oluwatoyin, reiterated the importance of the meeting considering the incessant flooding along River Pyakasa during annual rainy season and its devastating impact on Trademore Estate and its Environs.
“The annual flood event along this river has been occurring since 2019, which has cost the nation huge loss of lives and property of citizens the event is attributed to among other things, the following climate change through unusual downpour, urbanisation through population and infrastructural growth, under sized hydraulic structures, and siltation of hydraulic structures and the Pyakasa River,” he said.
“The flooding, according to the Permanent Secretary has affected the economy of Federal Capital Territory and Nigeria at large with devastating effect on livelihood and the ecosystem”, he pointed out.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to safety of lives and properties in the estate and Nigeria at large.
“I remind you of the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda towards ensuring a sustainable quality environment devoid by annual havoc occasion by flood; the administration recognises the need to urgently provide steps to a transport problem and its attendance hardship in the FCT. It is this commitment that necessitated the organisation of the stakeholders meeting.”
Kambari, however, urged stakeholders to share ideas and show the new zeal towards addressing the flood challenges along Pyakasa River.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Director, Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department of the Ministry, Mr Dilichukwu Etigbue said the flooding in Trademore Estate has caused huge economic losses to the FCT and the Nation.
“The workshop with the stakeholders is at the instance of his department to take proactive steps to avert the recurrence through proper handling of waste and adhering to FG directives and advise on flood warning signals and flood management to help address some of the challenges.
“The Department of Erosion, flood and Coastal Zone Management had its statutory responsibility of formulating environmental policies, measures that are relevant to solve erosion and flood control management throughout the country and this meeting is to enable us to have a robust deliberation on ways to avert this annual disaster,” he said.
He pointed out that the Ministry has documented the root causes of the erosion and will be shown during the technical session for inputs and way forward for a safer Trademore and other areas affected by flood.
Also, the Deputy Director Environmental Services, Division of Safe the Town Development Department, FCDA, Mr. Olawuwo Lateef called on the general public to support the government policy as this will help in addressing erosion control.
Lateef disclosed that supporting the FG policy is very crucial as most of the problems we’re talking about can be tackled if we adhere to building plan, not tempering with green areas as well as living just and fair without building on flood plains and blocking the drainage.
