Flooding: Nasarawa State Begins Massive Evacuation of Drains 

The Nasarawa State has embarked on massive evacuation and clearing of drainage systems across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state to curtail any possible flooding.

Permanent Secretary (PS), Nasarawa State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Malam Garba Mohammed, stated this while briefing journalists in Lafia after the June sanitation exercise.

The Permanent Secretary expressed displeasure over the attitude of some residents disposing of refuge in drains thereby obstructing the easy passage of water.

Malam Mohammed added that the ministry had decided to clear the drains for now, but subsequently, house and shop owners would be held responsible for any blockage within their premises.

According to him, given the way flood has ravaged and is still ravaging communities in many states including some parts of Nasarawa State, the ministry would not allow anybody to block the waterways

“When you block the waterways and prevent water from free flow, you are invited disaster, because anyhow water will find its way to pass,” the Permanent Secretary noted

On the level of compliance, the PS expressed satisfaction and applauded the traditional rulers, Chairmen of Area Councils as well as the security agencies for the success of the exercise.

He said that about 90 percent of the residents complied by looking up their shops and business to clean the surrounding during the exercise.

He said the state was shut down during the exercise in line with the law, except for those on essential services.

“We only allowed those with permission from relevant authorities and those on essential services to pass, and move around during the exercise,” he added.

Meanwhile, 39 persons suspected to have violated environmental sanitation laws in Lafia and Karu Local Government Areas (LGAs) were arrested and prosecuted by various mobile courts in the respective LGAs.

Dominica Nwabufo