FG asks stakeholders to proffer solutions to recurring flood in Abuja

Mahmud Kambari, the permanent secretary, federal ministry of environment, has urged relevant stakeholders to address the annual erosion and flooding problem in the Trademore estate and other parts of the federal capital territory (FCT).

Kambari spoke on Wednesday through Adelopo Oluwatoyin, the director, special duties at the ministry of environment, during the stakeholders’ meeting on the annual flooding at the Lugbe Trademore estate and environs in Abuja.

He said the meeting was called due to the constant flooding along River Pyakasa during the rainy season and its devastating impact on Trademore estate and nearby communities,

The permanent secretary noted that the flooding has affected the economy of the FCT with devastating effects on livelihoods and the ecosystem.

He added that the nation’s capital is expected to see more floods this year and urged stakeholders to share ideas towards addressing the flood challenges along the Pyakasa River.

“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,” he said.

“The event is attributed to among other things, the following climate change through unusual downpours, urbanisation through population and infrastructural growth, undersized hydraulic structures, and siltation of hydraulic structures and the Pyakasa river.

“I remind you of the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda towards ensuring a sustainable quality environment devoid by annual 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.”

Dilichukwu Etigbue, the director of erosion, flood and coastal zone management at the ministry of environment, said the workshop was to take proactive steps to avert the recurrence, through proper handling of waste and adherence to the government directives.

“As you all are aware, the department of erosion, flood and coastal zone management had its statutory responsibility of formulating environmental policies, and measures that are relevant to solving 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,” Etigbue noted.

He pointed out that the ministry has documented the root causes of the flooding.

Also speaking, Abdul Abubakar, the representative of TradeMore estate residents, appealed to the government to take action ahead of this year’s rainy season.

“So now that we are expecting the rains again, definitely all the residents in Trademore are already getting scared of the outcome,” he said.

“This is an opportunity for us really to say our mind on this, Trademore itself is not where the problem lies, but because of where it is located.”