The Federal Government on Thursday warned residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in their areas.
President Muhammadu Buhari gave the warning at the inauguration and handing over three projects in the FCT and Nasarawa.
Buhari, who was represented by Mohammed Abdullahi, Minister of State for Science and Technology said the residents should ensure they took ownership and maintained the projects to ensure their sustainability.
The three projects inaugurated were the construction of drainage retaining walls and erosion control at Abuja University, main campus.
Also, erosion and flooding control at Kuchiyako 1, District, New Hope Avenue, Kuje Area Council, FCT and access road Gurku Internally Displaced Person, (IDP) camp, Karu, Local Government Area, Nasarawa.
He said that the residents should adequately maintain the projects by preventing filling drainage systems with debris and refuse that could lead to flooding or erosion.
The President said that the projects were awarded in 2019, adding that Ecological Fund Offices intervened in the three projects effectively.
He said that the projects would address the devastating effects of erosion and flooding menace as well as providing access roads to people in the areas.
According to him, completion of these projects underscores the Federal Government’s concerted effort and sincerity of purpose in tackling problems of its citizens and making life more meaningful for the people of our great nation.
“I have no doubt in my mind that this project will bring relief generally to the communities that have for a very long time, suffered the problems of these ecological challenges,” he said.
The president said completion of the projects would enhance the living standard of people in the communities and their environs.
He said that the projects would also reduce dangers to lives and property, associated with erosion and persisted flooding that had been experienced in recent times.
He said that the projects would provide an opportunity for the economic growth of the communities.
Buhari thanked the EFO officials, project contractors, as well as project consultants for their willfulness in ensuring timely and speedy completion of the projects.
Permanent Secretary of EFO, Habiba Lawal, represented by Director, Soil Erosion and Flooding Control, EFO, Felix Okeke, said that the projects were made possible through the efforts of the contractors and consultants.
“The contractors and consultants had worked assiduously to ensure minimum loss of time in the projects implementation schedule and complimented on the other hand, with very close monitoring and prompt honoring of all contractual obligations by EFO.
“The commissioning and handing over of the projects to the communities are expected to achieve the dual purpose of enabling the people to take over and exercise ownership of the projects, to ensure its maintenance and sustainability.
“The resources which the Federal Government had committed to these projects must not be allowed to waste,’’ Lawal said.
Speaking, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Sadeeque Abba, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’ Allah thanked the Federal Government for making the reality of the project.
Na’ Allah said the students were not finding it easy going to their classrooms to take lectures during the rainy season, adding that the efforts had reduced the stress.
He appealed to the government to extend its intervention by constructing more areas that erosion had damaged in the school premises.
Also, Alhaji Abdullahi Sule, Governor of Nasarawa, advised residents to protect and maintain the environment by avoiding such activities that could damage the road as well as desisting from indiscriminate dumping of waste.
Sule promised the communities of adequate security, adding that the government was partnering with relevant security agencies in the state to ensure that the areas remained peaceful.
He thanked the Federal Government, EFO, consultants, and the contractors of the projects for ensuring effective completion of the road.
Director of IDPs camp, Markus Gamache, appreciated the effort of the government, EFO, and other good people in the community who in one way or the other supported the construction and completion of the road.
