Ebonyi Moves To Prevent Flooding

The Ebonyi Government has put in place various precautionary measures to forestall flood disasters in Abakaliki and border communities.

Mr Christopher Lebara, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, told newsmen last Thursday in Abakaliki that the measures were in response to the early warnings by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) of heavy rains this year.

He said government had embarked on the construction of drains and culverts to channel away rain water on new and old roads within the capital.

“At flood-proned areas, such as the international market, government is constructing drains to contain flooding.

“We want to avoid what happened last year when flooding destroyed homes, property and farmlands,” he said.

Lebara announced that the Ecological Office, Abuja planned to award a contract for the dredging of the Iyi-Okwu and Iyi-Udene streams.

“They are the major streams passing through Abakaliki and environs, and if they succeed in dredging them up to Ebonyi River, definitely we will not experience flooding this year.

“The state government is already notifying local government areas and Development Centres to educate the people within their territories to avoid the cultivation of crops at flood plains.

“This is to guide against the destruction of their crops before harvest period,” he added.

Lebara said the Ebonyi State Road Maintenance Agency had also commenced the silting of gutters and drains in Abakaliki to make for easy flow of flood water.

He said government had mounted surveillance at strategic points to prevent the people from dumping refuse into drains.

Lebara explained that apart from the capital city, where people had refused to obey nature and built houses within the flood plains, the situation was different in rural areas.