Following years of reoccurrences, it has been widely suggested that the authority of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) may begin evacuation of residents from Trademore Estate, describing the area as a disaster zone.
Permanent Secretary of the FCTA, Olusade Adesola, who led a strong team of the FCTA management for on the spot inspection of the incident, said firm actions needed to be taken, even as he expressed amazement at its magnitude and frowned at the “developmental challenges occasioned by the nature of the drainage constructed against water ways and roads in the area”.
Recall that three days ago, fatal floods hit the estate located in Lugbe, a suburb of Abuja.
Adesola, who led a team of the FCTA management for inspection of the incident, said firm actions will be taken. He expressed amazement at its magnitude, stating that “developmental challenges occasioned by the nature of the drainage constructed against water ways and roads in the area”, was the cause of the flood.
“We were quite amazed at the level of flooding that occurred there, he said.
Particularly, It’s the risk that people took -to build in such a low level plain. While on the road, we saw that even the roof of the houses were below the road level, which makes them vulnerable to flooding.
“The Taskforce will immediately swing into action to make recommendations on urgent issues or attention that must be given to the area. As we cannot fold our hands and allow the destruction to continue,” he added.
“We were amazed that only two days after the flood, people have returned to some of the properties. This doesn’t show regards for human lives, so in a couple of days, we will be taking appropriate action.
”Having seen the extent of the flooding, we hereby declare the Trademore Estate area a disaster zone that needs immediate action to remedy further damages and lost of lives and properties”, he stated.
Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, who is also Chairman, Taskforce on Flood Mitigation in FCT, appealed to residents to exercise restraints in flood prone areas during season and avoid running into places they would be trapped.
Corroborating the Permanent Secretary in pledging the FCTA would do everything possibl to mitigate such occurrence, the Executive Secretary said: “We will look at a programme of evacuating people from those areas, so as to ensure that we prevent the loss of lives and property”.
He said he would work with other relevant bodies to address the menace.
