The Akwa Ibom State Government has inaugurated a $34 million 8.4km flood control project executed in partnership with the World Bank through the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).
The project which traverses 18 communities in three local government areas is to address the perennial flooding on Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Avenue.
Speaking on Tuesday shortly before the inauguration of the project, the Governor of Delta State and vice presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ifeanyi Okowa, commended the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, for undertaking the project.
Okowa said, “It takes a bold and courageous leader to do this, because after sometime, people would forget what was buried underground. So, only great men who look into the future would do this.”
Okowa further said the cooperation of the youths in supporting the project showed that there was hope for the country, adding that such a disposition would continue to attract growth and development to the state.
Gov Emmanuel commended the World Bank through NEWMAP for partnering with the state in arresting the perennial flood problem, saying the flood had sacked many landlords and residents of the affected communities, noting that experts discouraged him from embarking on the project during a tour of the state in the early days of his administration.
He said, “I told them I do not run away from challenges; I take them headlong.”
Speaking on the project, the Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals, Charles Udoh, said the IBB Avenue intervention was meant to provide a permanent and comprehensive solution to the problem of perennial flooding in the surrounding communities.
He said, “It was done through the construction of a combination of underground and open reinforced concrete storm water drains spanning about 8.4km and designed for a total discharge capacity of 80.43m3/s.”
