Ecological Project Office Moves To Avert Flooding In FCT 

The Ecological Project Office in Nigeria, EPO has expressed commitment to implement ecological interventions that will enhance the lives of Nigerians and reduce their hardship.

Permanent Secretary of EPO, Mr Shehu Ibrahim stated this at the inspection of gully and erosion control interventions in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

He also noted that the Nigerian government would continue to spend more resources to execute projects to avert flooding in the FCT.

“I have already informed them that if the Nigerian government will spend enormous amount of resources to undertake projects, and then you as the beneficiary community will not be able to maintain them. It means that you’re not encouraging them to come back to that same community. So from what I’ve seen so far, I think we have an improvement from last report with that with the formation of Vanguard they have been in on the ground,” he explained.

Working With Leaders

He said the Ecological Office was working with the various communities’ leader to ensure that all projects are secured and protected.

“One of the major problems we had there is issue of our maintenance of the project as you can see yourself and the community representative as assured me now that they have already formed like a Vanguard, you know, that we’ll be able to, constantly watching what happens here and ensure that the projects are well kept,” he said.

Inspected Projects

The projects visited by the team includes the 10.8 kilometers Wusa-Gude road about 2 kilometers erosion control and gully intervention road linking Kuchigoro and Karimajiji and gully erosion and flood control works on Tafawa Balewa way Garki Abuja.

The Permanent Secretary further said that the intervention on the Wusa-Gude road was aimed at decongesting the gridlock usually experienced on the Abuja Kuje axis.

Mr Ibrahim who described the projects as a landmark project, said that the road would also help villagers for easy access to bring their Agric product to the city.

“The main essence of this road is to achieve two things. The first one is another axis that will allow interpreters of city to link up to the other side, it will also serve as an alternative route to other particular route.” the Permanent Secretary added.

The Managing Director of the Y/S Worldwide Concert Construction Company, Mr Sadiu also expressed hope that the project would be finished on time.

According to him, “the completion process of the project is about eighty percent completion and would be done in the next three months while the phase two of the project will commence soon.”

Also, the Managing Director of Jewel Construction and Engineering Services, Mr Muhammed Bello said the Kuchigoro and Karamonjij projects were one hundred percent completed.

He however called on the community to avoid dumping of refuses dumps on the drainages.

At the erosion and gully interventions by EPO in Kuchigoro and Karamonjij the National President Greater Gbagi Developpment Initiative, Mr Gimba Gbaiza said the project would make life more comfortable for the people.

“We want to commend the Nigerian government for what they have done we have been suffering for long till the government through Ecological Project Office came to our rescue,” he said.

Residents of the area pledge that the work, when completed, would be protected and maintained for the benefit of all.

Confidence Okwuchi