By Nneka Nwogwugwu
As the rainy season approaches, residents of Abuja are already taking bold steps to avert flood.
Recall that Naturenews had reported that residents of Abuja called on the Federal Government to commence measures to curb flood as the rainy season draws nearer.
Some residents lamented that last year’s flood destroyed valuable properties and lives, adding that they wouldn’t want to experience same this year.
A report from Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMET) had earlier stated that the devastating impact of the 2020 flood killed 68 people, affected 35 states including FCT [Federal Capital Territory], 320 LGAs [local government areas] and over 129,000 people.
As a result of this experience, a resident of Zuba, Anas Muhammad who expressed panic urged the government to put measures that will help in protecting his community from the havoc of flood.
However, Naturenews correspondent who went round the Dutse-Baupma area under Bwari Area council on Sunday, observed that some residents are already getting prepared for the rainy season by constructing channels through which water can flow out of their environment.
Some roads are already being graded for ease of vehicular movements.
Also, landlords of some houses have started protecting their houses by applying water sealant cement on the building and tiling their houses to avoid rise of water from the ground.
Speaking to a resident at Lokogoma, who maintained anonymous, said that some residents are still complacent about the season but some are individually evacuating refuse from drainage system.
In proffering better measures residents can also apply to cushion the effects of flood, a building technologist, Mr Uchechukwu Awalla, who spoke to Naturenews, advised that residents can control surface water in a building by constructing drainage system, caveat and landscaping.
Awalla said that these three ways can protect residents from flood as well as erosion.
He also advised that House owners and residents should get water sealant cement to avoid water penetration into their homes.
Awalla urged that streets should maintain their roads by filling up port holes with concrete .
