The Permanent Secretary, Ecological Project Office (EPO), Shehu Ibrahim has said the Federal Government is planning a holistic approach to end the flooding menace in the Trademore Mega-City Estate and its environs.
Ibrahim said this in a statement issued after an on-the-spot assessment tour of the flood-ravaged Abuja estate and its environs.
The statement, signed by Mrs. Eno Olotu and issued to newsmen on Tuesday, quoted Ibrahim as saying that the tour was to enable EPO put up a comprehensive report for the government’s further action.
The flooding incident occurred last Friday which left the estate located along Airport Road badly hit.
Ibrahim decried the level of devastation caused by the flood, adding that the problem was beyond the capacity of one agency of government.
He said the challenge required collaboration with sister agencies to come up with a comprehensive plan of intervention.
“From our own assessment, two factors are responsible for the flood – human and natural factors.
“It is something that will go beyond one agency, so we are looking at areas we need to come in and intervene and will liaise with other sister government agencies.
“Agencies like the Federal Capital Development Agency (FCDA), Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and Federal Ministry of Environment must work together.
“We must come up with a comprehensive plan to see how we can address this issue and avoid a future occurrence,” he said.
Ibrahim, who said the natural factor resulted from the raining season, blamed the human factor and compromise by the developers, as well as indiscriminate dumping of refuse on waterways by residents.
He advised on crucial and proper sensitisation on change of attitude.
“The assessment tour is part of the Federal Government’s proactive efforts to hasten the provision of a lasting solution to flooding in the area.
“Government will do its best to intervene on ecological issues and also send officers to go round to assess other areas affected.
“Government cannot sit down and allow things like this to happen,” lbrahim said.
