FG commissions erosion control projects to ease pedestrian, vehicular movement in FCT
By THE Federal Government has handed over some erosion and flood control projects to Veritas University in Bwari and some communities in Saburi and Kubwa within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to prevent flooding, as well as ease pedestrian and vehicular movement.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, while handing over the projects to the benefitting communities in Abuja, advised them to cherish the laudable projects and protect them from any misuse and further decay.
He explained that the completion of the project would enhance the living standard of the people and reduce dangers to lives and property associated with erosion and persistent flooding that had been experienced in those communities in recent years.
According to him, the enormous challenges faced by the various communities as a result of bad roads and gully/soil erosion over the years cannot be overemphasized. The Federal Government’s intervention has therefore brought a huge relief to the suffering in the University and other communities.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, the Ecological Fund Office (EFO), Hajia Habiba Lawal, implored the benefiting communities to jealously guard the project and prevent indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the constructed drainage channels.
According to her: “The commissioning and handing over of this laudable project to the benefactors will no doubt make them take over the ownership of the project to ensure its maintenance and sustainability. The resources which the Federal Government had committed to this project must not be allowed to waste.
On his part, Managing Partner of Asonic Associates Limited and project contractor, Gbenga Ajayi, revealed that the erosion control project executed in Veritas University, Bwari, cost the government an estimate of N750 million.
According to him: “These roads that are clean today is because the water problem has been solved because each time water comes on the roads, it finds its way to discharge. All the drains are also cleaned which means there is a very good flow.”
Project Manager and Consultant of Cefex International Limited, Mr. Muhammed Ibrahim appealed to the Federal Government to allocate more funds for other erosion projects in affected communities.
“The mobilization for us as consultants was very challenging and it took time before we got our payment because it is not a small project. Before the project, the hips of garbage was all the way and it was very challenging to move all those hips to another dump site.
“It took us six months from July to January to finish this project. There is a military establishment in this community and they are upset that we did not reach there because of lack of funds so we decided to stop at the market,” he explained.
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