Alarmed by the increase in flooding incidents in Akwa Ibom State, particularly, Uyo, Governor Umo Eno has directed a consultant to undertake the review and updating of the city’s urban drain, flood master-plan.
The Commissioner for Environment, Nsikak Ekong who disclosed this during a Ministerial press briefing noted that the review was aimed at bringing long term solution to the perennial flooding in the state amid the wave of urbanisation.
The Commissioner noted that apart from the human factor of blocking of drains, climate change and rapid urbanisation have spiked the incidents of flooding in the state.
According to him, “The ministry is developing a Climate Change Policy and working with the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on legislation to support climate action and carbon-credit opportunities.
“Rapid urbanisation is another factor causing flooding in Uyo, because of urbanisation, the culverts that used to take water adequately may not be able to do that again; because of urbanisation there are no bushes to absorb water, concretes, slabs and roads everywhere.
“Therefore, there is a need to update or review the flood/drain master plan. The governor has already directed a consultant to undertake the review. This shows how Akwa Ibom responds to rapid urbanisation, climate induced flooding. I believe when this is completed, the issue of flooding will be a thing of the past.”
He added that an environmental response team – ‘Clean Akwa Ibom Brigade’ will be inaugurated to check and monitor flood prone areas across the state.
Giving update on the Uyo dump site, the commissioner stated that government is on the verge of reclaiming Uyo village road saying that a housing estate will be built in the area.
He hinted that Akwa Ibom generates approximately 700,000 metric tonnes of waste annually equivalent to about 2,000 tonnes daily noting that the governor has directed the ministry to engage consultants that will convert the waste into energy.
He added,” We have contacted two companies both in India and the US. The one in the US said we should convert the waste to energy and sell it to the national grid. The second company proposed we do waste to wealth such that every family will be profiled and dust bin will be provided with different colours and segregated. Plastic waste will be converted, organic waste converted to organic fertilisers.
“We are hoping that ARISE 2.0 will adopt this strategy and you can sell every waste we generate. This can provide employment for youths too.
“Environmental education programmes on waste segregation have also been introduced in primary and secondary schools. We have done drainage desilting around Abak Road, Aka Road and Ikot Ekpene Road, as well as interventions in Shelter Extension and other affected areas.”