Governor of Delta State and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa has commissioned 8.4km flood control project in Akwa Ibom State.
The flood control scheme which gulped $34m was initiated by Akwa Ibom State Government in partnership with World Bank through the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) and transverses 18 communities across three local government areas of the state.
The project is designed to contain more than half of the flood water generated in the Uyo metropolis and its environment.
Speaking shortly before the commissioning of the project along Ibrahim Babagida (IBB) way on Tuesday, Governor Okowa applauded the State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, for his courage to undertake a project that may not score many political points, as billions have been buried underground.
He said it takes a leader, who sees beyond the present, to commit huge resources to solve a problem that may negatively hunt the future but without the visibility to leave many traces for recognition and applause in the near future.
“This project is huge. I have had to undertake a flood control project and I know that the amount you put here would do several kilometres of roads.
“It takes a bold and courageous leader to do this because after some time, people would forget what was buried underground. So, only great men who look into the future would do this,” He said.
He commended Akwa Ibom youths for working side by side with the government to achieve great things and expressed optimism that such disposition will continue to attract growth and development for the state.
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Okowa lauded Governor Udom Emmanuel for providing 10 alternative sources of water for communities on the line of the project.
He noted that Governor Emmanuel has all it takes to replicate his courage and greatness to the entire country in his capacity as Chairman of the PDP presidential campaign committee.
Governor Udom Emmanuel commended World Bank through NEWMAP for partnering with the state in providing a solution to the perennial flood problem, which he said had sacked many landlords and residents of the affected communities.
Governor Emmanuel said ecological and flood challenges across the state were revealed to him during his tour of the state in his early days in office but was discouraged by experts and stakeholders to tackle the problem.
“I was advised to leave this project that it has been there over the years. I told them I do not run away from challenges, I take them headlong”. He said
Giving a breakdown of the project, the Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals, Mr Charles Udoh said the flood Intervention project is meant to provide a permanent and comprehensive solution to the problem of perennial flooding in the surrounding communities.
“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,” He said
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