Akwa Ibom responds to FG’s alert, moves against flooding

Akwa Ibom State Government has indicated readiness to commence aggressive desilting of gutters and flood channels across the state.

This indication was given on Thursday, at the meeting of the Inter-ministerial Monitoring and Mitigation Committee, set up by the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, in response to the 2024 annual flood outlook released by the Federal Ministry for Water Resources and Sanitation.

Speaking at the meeting, which was held at the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Uyo, the Commissioner for Information, Ini Ememobong, said the committee had received information from the Federal Government on the areas with high flood threat and other areas that prone to flooding and flash flooding.

He said efforts to tackle flood in the state were borne out of the governor’s concern and interest in the wellbeing of his people, adding that the erosion control project in Atiku Abubakar Way and its environs would be launched soon.

The commissioner, who noted that flooding could affect agriculture, education, and every sector, and was capable of creating new poor people, in addition to bringing about more diseases, said: “That is why the government is making plans to ensure that the citizens are safe.”

In his remarks, Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Uno Etim Uno, listed the highly flood-risk areas in the state, which include Ibeno, Ikot Abasi, and Eastern Obolo local government areas, as well as other coastal areas like Oron, Mbo, and others.

He added that his ministry would commence intensive desilting of outforce drains in the state as a mitigation measure against the consequences of the flood prediction.

On his part, the Commissioner for Health, Prof Augustine Umoh, noted that floods always came with serious public health implications. He added that the plans of the government concerning the flood would take care of the people, especially those in rural areas, in line with the rural development mantra of the ARISE Agenda of the administration.

In addition to clearing gutters, Water Resources and Sanitation Commissioner, Mrs Enobong Mbobo, encouraged citizens to be much more proactive in the aspect of defecation. She said that when there is a flood, there are always high levels of disease due to poor hygiene and sanitation.

In her remarks, the Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner, Dr Offiong Offor, averred that proper handling of flood issues would help to preserve farmlands, thereby achieving food sufficiency.

Offor noted that Agriculture Extension Agents would be used to sensitise farmers on food agronomic practices so as not to have farm lands washed away and make animals come under diseases, thereby reducing the effects on the farming sector.

The Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency, Obong Prince Ikim, hinted at plans and ongoing actions by the agency to desilt gutters and flood control channels in Uyo and other parts of the state.

Recall that early this week, a flood alert was issued by the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Water Resources, warning 31 states in the federation, including Akwa Ibom, of an imminent flood disaster and the imperative of devising potent measures to mitigate the menace.

Governor Eno consequently constituted the Committee on Monitoring and Mitigation of Impacts of the prodicted flood, mandating it to meet, deliberate, and submit its report within 48 hours.