By Stanley Onyekwere
In the wake of turbulent flooding in the Lokogoma District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), occasioned by early morning heavy down pour yesterday, the FCTA is to barricade the sleep road from Games Village to the Airport road and others within the FCT, in order to save lives and property.
This move was disclosed by the Director General of the FCT Emergency Management Agency,(FEMA), Alhaji Abbas Idriss, in a statement from Head, Public Relations Unit (PRU) of the agency, Nkechi Isa, which was made available to PeoplesDaily in Abuja.
Idriss while reacting to the incident which affected Dogongada in Lokogoma and Damangaza and Apo Dutse in Gudu Districts, appealed to residents to heed the early warnings issued by FEMA.
He said: “We will continue to educate residents as a government in the language they will understand.
“Motorists should avoid driving on running water, wait for five or more minutes for the water to subside before driving. Cross check before leaving homes or your work places to ensure that the road is safe.
“We are going to have a little above normal rainfall this year. Therefore, residents should be wary of the devastating effects of flooding.
“Residents should avoid building on water ways, water channels, raising retention walls, and ensure that the required 25 meters gap between your house and the water channels/roads are allowed for safety in accordance with the Abuja master plan. When you do this we will all be safe”.
The FEMA boss who blamed flooding in the Territory on indiscriminate construction, infractions and urbanisation, assured that relevant agencies were working to remove all obstructions.
The statement added that the Search and Rescue Unit of the Forecasting Response and Mitigation of FEMA (FRM), has rescued a resident from drowning at Dogongada in the flood.
According to the Acting Director FRM,Mrs Florence Wenegieme, the rescue followed a distress call on the 112 emergency toll free number at 5.25am.
She disclosed that that the victim’s vehicle was totally submerged , leaving him trapped on the roof top of his car.
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