Governor Emmanuel has brought lasting solution to flood problems - Dr Essien

His Excellency the governor  (Mr Udom Emmmanuel) is particularly concerned about the troubles that Akwa Ibom people go through in some parts of the State when it rains and the effect it poses on the economic activities around the affected areas”.

This was part of the statement made by the State Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources; Dr Iniobong Ene Essien, on Monday, when he, alongside his colleagues in Ministry of Works; Mr Ephraim Inyang and that of Lands and Town Planning; Arc Imo Ekpo, inspected flood areas in the Uyo metropolis.

Dr Essien specifically commended the State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel for his resolve to deploy resources in the area of erosion control and flood management.

The Environment boss who noted that in less than two years in office, Governor Emmanuel has demonstrated that he posesses abounding zeal, vision and capacity to develop the entire State and make it become like a cynosure of all eyes however, frowned at illegal activities of some people aimed at undermining efforts of government

“Akwa Ibom people must learn to follow the rules, let us live by the rules. We must get building plan approval before we embark on any kind of construction. As we speak, people have started illegal dredging. The outfall that we were supposed to start work is totally degraded and devastated. Again, we are appealing to our people to be part of the solution to the problems we are having. We have also noticed that people are still dumping waste on a number of channels and drainages across the State. It is not helping government. We must help government to help the masses”, Dr Essien said.

The Commissioner who hinted that the State government was desirous of bringing permanent solution to perennial flodding in the capital city and its environs appealed to the citizens to give maximum support and cooperate with government while the work lasted. 

“The solution to flood menace here is going to be phased. While the phasing is going on, we need to appeal to our people for some understanding. The truth is that, government does not want to jump in and intervene and take water out of IBB Way and then end up with more problems down the way. We want something sustainable and that is why we have taken pains to inspect the area; we look at the designs and drawings, the catchment areas,  the existing drains and see how all these can be tied together so that we can have sustainable solution to major flood problems that we have here”.

The Commissioner who hinted that the State government has sought for assistance from the World Bank in tackling the problem, appealed to Federal Govenrment to come to their aid as “the State does not have the immediate resources to handle the problem”.