Persistent flood in Uyo city has been attributed to the inability of past administrations in Akwa Ibom State to follow a drainage master plan designed for erosion control in the state capital.
Speaking with newsmen in Uyo on Tuesday, the commissioner for environment Mr Charles Udoh explained that most of the flooded areas in Uyo city were artificially caused by residents who build houses on water channels against the original plan.
“Unfortunately, the drainage master plan for Uyo was not followed in the past, so today we are building an 8.4 kilometers drains that will take water from Atiku Abubakar up to the Secretariat roundabout, then link it up to the Women Development Center along IBB way, into Atan Offot up to the PDP secretariat.
“That drainage because of the volume of water around the areas, will carry 50,000 litres of water per second. That is what we are doing about the IBB flood project. We also sought emergency intervention around the Etim Umanah and Anua which is expected by August.
“There is something that I want us to learn here, that most of the environmental problems we are tackling in the state are man-made problems. For instance, in the past 15years, there was no IBB flood problem because houses are built on water channels, that is why public education, sensitisation are important. Blocking the drainages with debris. We are also planning to bring back days of the sanitary inspection. The environmental officials whose business is to promote environmental health,” he said.
Udoh explained that the Ministry of Environment has received a lot of complaints against noise pollution, stressing that, as its continues in the sensitisation and awareness exercise, it would start to bring violators to book.
“Of course I have received many complaints about noise pollution, it is an aspect that we will deal with as we progress.”
On mining and dredging business, the Commissioner agreed that dredging was on the Exclusive list, but warned that, those with the license to operate, must have to liaise with the Ministry on how to carry out their operations