The Federal Government disclosed on Monday that plans were being made to build flood walls around River Kaduna to address the constant challenges of flood in Kaduna which has led to loss of lives and properties.
Dr. Martin Edufie, The Acting Director, National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna, who disclosed this yesterday in his address marking the 2020 World Rivers Day regretted that Kaduna had in recent years suffered spates of floods, leading to loss of lives and properties, including houses, crops and even farmlands.
The address yesterday was centered on the theme, ‘Waterways in our Communities’’, Edufie said the Federal Government’s plan was based on yearly study on flood in Kaduna State. He said: ‘Very soon, we are going to have a flood control project in Kaduna. We are going to have floodwalls on both banks of River Kaduna to protect the people. This is as a result of our yearly study on flood in Kaduna State. Every year, we study the flood in Kaduna and submit our report to our Minister. The Minister has taken steps to address the challenge.’
‘People are encroaching on flood lane, we need to respect the waterways and ensure quality of water. Water serves several purposes. World River Day started in 2005, every fourth Sunday of September to highlight the importance of rivers.’
Hajiya Balaraba Aliyu Inuwa, Kaduna State Commissioner for Public Works and Infrastructure was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Bashir Umar Lere made a remark on the occasion that river pollution and climate change were the challenges facing river development. ‘ The other major challenge is climate change and its pursuant effects. Climate change is having a multitude of immediate and long term impacts on water resources across the world.’
‘These include flooding, drought, sea-level rise in estuaries, drying up of rivers, poor water quality in surface and groundwater system. Even here in Kaduna, we are experiencing excessive rainfall which leads to flooding and damage to life and property across the city.’
‘The solution pivots on taking urgent action to utilize science technology and innovation policies relevant to water audit and management,’ she said. Malam Sanusi Maikudi, the Managing Director, Kaduna State Water Corporation, said in his remarks, that mankind should respect the river because it is a source of employment, food, economic activities, and
recreation. ‘It is time to start dredging river to make them navigable and improve water transportation,’ he said.
Peace Omenka