By Hillary Asemota
The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Zakka has appealed to the Ecological Project Office (EPO) for an urgent intervention in tackling the perennial flooding of Tunga Magaji Road, a suburb access road that connects 8 other communities within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said the deplorable state of the road caused by heavy flooding over the years has brought untold hardships to the residents and is a threat to their economic survival.
Zakka made the passionate appeal during a courtesy visit to the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Project Office (EPO) Malam Shehu Ibrahim, recently.
The AMAC Chairman pointed out the several efforts previously made by the Area Council to arrest the situation, stating that the magnitude of the devastation had become obvious that it was beyond the capacity of the Council, hence necessitating its escalation to the Federal Government through the EPO.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Project Office (EPO), expressed sympathy over the situation and assured of government’s commitment to addressing the ecological challenges in the nation, adding that the FCT would always be a priority consideration of the Federal Government in utilization of its share of the Ecological Fund as the states also draw their own share of the fund.
Ibrahim, informed that the FCT has benefitted in a number of ecological projects within the capital territory and will always be given priority attention as critical need arises in subsequent cycle of the President’s project approvals.
The Permanent Secretary also received in audience, the Esu Karu who is also President, Karu Local Government Traditional Council, His Highness, Pharm. Luka Panya Baba, who on his part appealed to EPO for quick intervention on the flooding menace around the Ado River Bank in Karu Local Government Area. According to him, the situation has caused havoc in the community for over 20 years.
Speaking further, the Esu Karu, said EPO intervention will save lives, properties and forestall further devastation.
Similarly, the Chief of Giri, Aguma-Giri, Alhaji Musa Wakili, during his visit commended the Permanent Secretary on EPO’s commitment in tackling various ecological challenges in the country particularly within the FCT and its environs and appealed for urgent intervention in the flood and erosion proned Giri community.
The Permanent Secretary also received the representative of the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Nigerian French language Village, Mr. Emmanuel Onung in his office.
Onung said his visit was a subtle reminder of an earlier submission to the office in 2020, drawing attention to an urgent need of intervention in the ravaging erosion and flood problems bedeviling the Language village. He said that lives and property have been eroded severally at the institution and its environs in the past two years.
Ibrahim in his response, explained that the office is daily inundated with several requests across the country with over 4000 requests currently captured in its data bank. However, he advised the group to resubmit a reviewed copy of its former submission considering the time lapse and price changes. He further advised them to also consider approaching TETFUND for intervention, stating that ecological intervention requires synergy with relevant government agencies for increased milestones.
Present at the event were the Directors of EPO, Pollution Control, Mr. Clinton Igwe; Director, Drought Desertification and Coastal Zone Management (DDCZM), Mr. Haruna Bello; Director, Soil Erosion and Flood Control, Malam Abubakar Takuma; Director, Procurement, Mr. Abdullahi Mohammed; and Director, Special Duties, Mr. Yakubu Habu.