Yobe state government has began excavation of tributaries to forestall flood disaster that destroyed hundreds of houses with some lost of lives in Damaturu, the state capital.
Flagging off the project in Pompomari ward, the deputy governor of Yobe, Engr Abubakar D. Ali, who is also the chairman, Environmental sanitation committee, said the measure was taken to allow free flow of water from the capital city.
He said an environmental sub-committee that investigated the remote causes of the flood identified the tributaries that impede the water flow in its reports for immediate action.
“N4,050,000.00 was approved to execute a short term measure that would allow flow of water volumes to the main discharge channels.
“We are to cover a distance of 1.4 kilometer around here (Pompomari area) and plans are underway to commence the one at Nayinawa, who were also affected by the flooding”, he said.
The General Manager of Yobe State Environmental Protection Agency, Idi Wadina Lailai, said the attitudes of the communities in dumping refuse on the water ways was responsible for the flood.
“All the blockages you see are refuse dumped by these communities despite several sensitization
campaigns. As government, we never failed in our responsibility to provide safety and maintain the public hygiene”
He called on the communities to desist from dumping of refuse on the water ways .
Excavator dredging a tributary at one of the flooded areas, Pompomari area, in Damaturu.
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