The Federal Government has inaugurated a road and stormwater drainage network constructed to stop perennial flooding in and around the premises of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Yola.
According to officials of the college, life had been a nightmare for students and staff during raining season as the college would be flooded with some areas being either difficult or entirely impossible to access.
The road and drainage project, which includes a road crisscrossing much of the college premises complete with drainage lines, was executed by the Federal Government through the Ecological Fund Office in the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
In addition to the road and drainage network, solar-powered street lighting system was installed to ensure that the area is illuminated and to add to the beauty of the college.
Permanent Secretary of the Ecological Fund Office, Dr. Habiba Lawal, explained at the inauguration ceremony that the project was initiated through a request for urgent intervention forwarded to the Ecological Fund Office by the Provost of the FCE Yola to arrest the continuous erosion, flood and other ecological challenges of the college.
She said the inauguration and handing over of the project to the college was expected to achieve the dual purposes of enabling the host community to take over and exercise ownership of the project and ensure its maintenance.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari as Guest of Honour at the occasion, said the FCE Yola project was one of 23 ecological interventions approved by the President for the second quarter of 2018, adding that the contract was awarded by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on 28 November 2018.
“The approval of this project by Mr. President is a testimony of the present administration’s promise that no part of the country would suffer neglect due to its geographical location or political consideration,” he said.