By Okey Maduforo
Over 600 Buildings including shops and residential houses are to be saved from impending flood disaster around Fegge in Onitsha South local government area of Anambra state.
This is coming as residents in the area have been lamenting over the blocked drains that had caused flood problems last year at the Sakamori end of the canal into the River Niger.
To this end the Commissioner for Works Engr Ifeanyi Okeoma has directed the Zodic Construction Company carrying out road construction in the area to do the costing of opening the blocked drains for approval by government.
According to the Okeoma shortly after the inspection of Creek Road by Bids , Sakamori Bridge , Ekwulobia street drainage, by Creek Road as well as Onuora Ikeme street;
“We are awere of the menace of flooding along those areas because the last channel to the Sakamori emptying into the River Niger is blocked and whenever it rains the flood comes up and submerge a lot of buildings in that area and now that the rains are coming we have to take action that would prevent such incidents from happening”
“The Contractor have been directed to do the costing for that project and bring it to government for approval” he said.
Chairman Fegge landlords Association Mr Okwudili Obinwune noted that the number of buildings that would be saved in the process is over 600 adding that as landlords it is their duty to work with government to see that roads constructed are protected from collapsing.
Obinwune explained that most of the buildings that are always submerged by flood are as a result of the blocking of the drains and canals urging the residents in the area to take charge of projects in their areas.
The Onitsha South Local government Chairman, Chief Emeka Joseph Orji noted that such inspections are done periodically at the commencement and during the rainy seasons insisting that market leaders and shop owners should be vigilant about those that dump refuse inside the drains and report to the appropriate authorities.
Meanwhile work continues at the Upper Iweka – More streets linking the Ochanja Market which the Contract Mr Mark Chu explained that soon the project would be completed and handed over to the State government.
