The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has initiated the evacuation of one million meters of drainage in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba and Bauchi states.
Alhaji Goni Alkali, Managing Director of the commission, announced this on Tuesday during an inspection of the ongoing drainage evacuation and completed solar-powered boreholes in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
Alkali said the urgency of desilting drainages to address the frequent flooding that devastates homes, lives and livelihoods in the region was of utmost importance to the commission as it will not only control flooding but also enhance sanitation and reduce the risk of malaria and cholera outbreaks.
“We are all aware of global warming and its impact, particularly the flooding issues in our region. To counter this, we believe that proper drainage management is essential for mitigating floods across the North East,” Alkali said.
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“We are working to desilt approximately one million metres of drainage across the six states. In Maiduguri alone, we are evacuating 300,000 meters. The progress so far is visible, and we will continue these efforts. This project will also create job opportunities for our youth through our consulting firms.”
The MD also highlighted the commission’s efforts in improving water access and sanitation.
“We have inspected the solar-powered boreholes we’ve installed based on community needs. In Maiduguri, we have drilled over 50 functional boreholes and plan to install more to ensure access to clean drinking water and improved hygiene.
“We have visited locations such as Fessan, Fori Grave Yard, Lawan Bukar Nimeri Korongoso and Sir Kashim Ibrahim College of Education, where the communities have expressed their gratitude.”
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