Flooding: Imo Inaugurates 39-man Taskforce

The Imo State Govern
ment has inaugurated a 30-man Special Environmental Task Force to check flooding in the state.
Inaugurating the task force, the Adviser to Imo Governor on Special Duties, Mr Emma Ibediaro,  said the measure was in line with the “Imo My Pride” policy of the state government.
Ibediaro said that the policy was aimed at checking flood disaster in the state, and added that, “this task force is another important arrangement aimed at restoring the aesthetics of Imo’’.
He charged the members to apprehend those in the habit of dumping waste in water channels or parking vehicles on top of drainage system.
He mandated the team to also apprehend those who kept other things, including materials for building houses on the drainage channels because such things damaged the drains.
Ibeaiaro further charged them to apprehend residents that damaged the roads while engaging in unauthorised construction.
He said, “henceforth dumping of refuse at designated dump sites in all the urban centres in Imo State should take place between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily’’.
The adviser to the governor, however, cautioned the task force to be civil while performing it
He also appealed to all security agencies in the state to cooperate with the task force.
Head, Imo State Environmental Protection Agency, Mr Leo Chimezie,  urged Imo people to support the state government’s programmes meant to improve the environment.
Chimezie added that with the number of hospitality and tourism establishments in Owerri, the state capital, clean environment would further provide more business opportunities in the state.
Responding, the Chairman of the task force, Mr Canice Amadi, thanked the state government for the opportunity given them to serve, and promised that they would abide by the guidelines.
“In the spirit of the ‘Rescue Mission’ agenda of Governor Rochas Okorocha, we will do our best to serve the people. All we crave for is support and cooperation of the public,’’ Amadi said.