Nation
FCTA Tasks Stakeholders On Flood Mitigation In FCT
The Permanent Secretary and Acting Chairman, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Olusade Adesola, has called for proper zoning of flood plains in the Territory to mitigate flooding through restrictions on building in such areas.
Adesola made the call, Monday, while speaking at an emergency stakeholders’ meeting on flood mitigation in the FCT, where a total of 43 stakeholders attended the meeting.
Adesola said this would increase the amount of land where water infiltration can occur and therefore lessen surface runoff, which usually ends up in flood.
While appealing to residents to desist from buying lands on waterways, he said, “Always confirm the situation of the land before you buy. Desist from buying lands from Chiefs and area councils. They cannot allocate lands”.
The Permanent Secretary challenged engineers in the country to come up with innovative solutions for the utilisation of flood waters for economic activities like tourism and all-year farming rather than allowing it to destroy lives and property.
Also speaking, the Director General, FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Dr. Abbas Idriss, said FEMA intends to strengthen its volunteers, especially its Marshalls who work in the communities.
“We are making arrangements with Jabi Lake and Moshood Abiola Stadium to train our volunteers and local divers on modern techniques”, he stated.
Dr Idriss appealed to local councils to strengthen the local emergency committees in view of their critical roles at the grassroots.
In a goodwill message, the Director General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Clem Nze, informed, that the 2023 flood outlook placed the FCT in a high probable flood risk area as well as two area Councils in moderately flood risk areas.
Presenting the Abuja Masterplan and Flood Control Measures, the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, Engr. Hadi Ahmad, said additional seven bridges were required to address the annual flooding in Galadimawa District.
Represented by the Deputy Director, Engineering Services, Engr. Richard Yunusa Dauda, Ahmad said the agency was carrying out a total Hydrological survey of the City to identify all sources of water, runoff, and erosion control measures.
Earlier, the Director of Forecasting Response and Mitigation, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, explained that the meeting was intended to come up with mitigative measures to ensure that no life is lost to flooding this year.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
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