Blockage of Water Channels Responsible for Flooding- FEMA
By: Dansan Magaji
The FCT Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA), has blamed the recent flooding, especially the one that occurred in Nyanya, which led to the destruction of both residential and worship places on indiscriminate dumping of refuse in flood drainages in the area.
Confirming the recent heavy floods in the area in a statement in Abuja, the Director General of FEMA, Alhaji Abbas Idriss called on residents of Nyanya to always keep their environment clean.
He said, “It was the activities of residents around the area that blocked the water channels, and it’s as a result of this that the whole area was inundated”
According to him, “It happened sometimes back and we were able to evacuate and also advised the people that they should try as much as possible to maintain the environment, avoid dumping refuse and blocking the drainages as well as waterways”.
Earlier during an impact assessment of the flooded areas, the Director-General represented by the Acting Director, Forecasting, Response and Mitigation, Mrs. Florence Wenegieme noted that the drains were overwhelmed by the heavy floods.
She explained that the place is a flood plain that has a lot of buildings on it, with blocked drainages and heavy downpours, some houses and churches got flooded.
The ugly situation experienced every year in the Territory which has become a rather disturbing trend has claimed lives and property worth millions of naira.
Nyanya residents have however been advised to work with FEMA to evacuate water from the area and those living in flood plains to seek alternative residences in higher plains to avoid loss of lives and property.