By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has directed the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and Flood Control Committee to come up with a holistic physical development plan for the state.
He also pledged to build an underground infrastructure to enable free water flow in the state capital, Maiduguri in an effort to control and mange flooding in the metropolis which has displaced residents annually and destroy property of citizens of the state.
The General Manager, Borno State Urban Planning and Development Board (BSUPDB), Kaka Mallam Umar disclosed this while inspecting the flooded and water lodged areas of Maiduguri Metropolis.
According to him, the inspection which was directed by the governor, is aimed at accessing areas with lingering flooding problems with a view to finding a lasting solution to the menace.
The areas inspected included The 505 Housing Estate, Muna Garage, Maduganari, Shuwari I, II, III, Old CBN quarters and Gomari,
The General Manager explained that In an effort to curtail the menace of flood disaster in the state capital, Maiduguri city, new measures have been adopted to ensure proper environmental sanitation through clearance of drainages, evacuation of refuse dumps and fumigation.
He further said that despite several warnings from the state government, people are building illegal structures on waterways that are already marked by the board.
The General Manager noted that there was the need for the expansion and deepening of the depth of water ways in the city while pointing out that, there was also the need to link up all retention areas to the already existing reservoirs as in the case of areas like Shuwari community.
Kaka also promised to submit an interim report to the governor based on the board assessment for immediate action.
He appealed to the residents of the areas and all the community leaders to engage their residents in clearance, and maintenance of existing waterways and drainages .
On his part, The Chairman Shuwari Development Association, Abubakar Ibn Umar in an interview with journalists during the inspection tour, applauded the state government for its relentless effort in the area.
He however lamented that most of the roads in their area are inaccessible as a result of flooding while appealing for timely intervention by the state government
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