FCTA Assesses Flood Prone Areas

By: Nkechi Isa

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has embarked on assessment tour of flood prone areas in Abuja.

The Ag.Director-General of the FCT Emergency Management Department,(FEMD), Engineer Abdulrahman Mohammed, who led a team of experts and accompanied by the management of the Department on the tour Thursday, said that it is aimed at reducing such ugly incidents.

The Director-General attributed flash floods in some parts of the FCT to lapses in engineering infrastructure.

Mohammed, who visited the NPF Headquarters slip road, Villa gate, Damagaza and iPent Estates in Lokogoma District as well as Zone 4 Lugbe Community, reiterated that the Department doesn’t want to take any chance as everything possible will be done to prevent floods or reduce its impacts.

According to him, the causes of flash floods in areas visited were man-made and could be controlled to mitigate their impact.

His words: “We will write to the Facility Maintenance and Management, FMMD to desilt the manholes and drainage system in these areas to ensure a free flow of storm water. We will also draw the attention of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board to sensitize street cleaners against the dumping of refuse into
the manholes.”

He called on relevant agencies to strictly monitor infractions and remove encroachments on storm water channels.

Mohammed, equally appealed to residents to shun the vandalization of public infrastructure, particularly manholes; noting that it had far-reaching consequences on the lives of the residents.

The DG urged residents to always use the 112 emergency toll-free number in the event of any emergency.