FCT minister says N263m erosion control projects to ease movement

The minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Bello, has commissioned N263 million erosion control projects executed by the Ecological Fund Office (EFO), in Karshi, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

Speaking at the commissioning in Abuja, the minister said the projects were aimed at easing movement of residents of the community. He, however, charged residents and host communities to take active ownership of the projects and avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

The minister, who also commissioned a similar project in Abaji, Abaji Area Council, recently said they were expected to check flooding and gully erosion menace in the communities.

“Having successfully completed this project, the living standard of the people in the communities would be enhanced. This would at the same time reduce danger to lives and properties associated with erosion and persistent flooding in the area,” he said.

Speaking, the Permanent Secretary of EFO, Dr. Habiba Lawal, said the timely completion was made possible through efforts of the project coordinator and consultant, who worked tirelessly to ensure minimum loss of time with very close monitoring and prompt honouring of all contractual obligations.

“The commissioning and handing over of the project to the benefiting community is expected to achieve the dual purpose of enabling the host community to take over and exercise ownership over the project to ensure its maintenance and sustainability so that the resources committed by the Federal Government will not be wasted,” he added. 

In his remarks, the Project Manager, Katlego Engineering Ltd, Shittu Chidawa, explained that it was based on the scope of the work, which included site clearing, artwork, backfilling and excavation, stressing that the road was in a very bad condition before the intervention of the EFO.

He added that during the implementation of the project, a total of 800 people were engaged from the host community. He urged the community to take ownership of the project and also desist from dumping refuse in the drainage.