The Director General of the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency,(FEMA), Alhaji Abbas Idriss has vowed that all obstructions to the free flow of water in the Territory would be removed.

Reacting to incidents of flash floods in some parts of the FCT  following yesterday’s rainfall, Idriss said, “We did this a few years back. There is no going back”.

 He stated that the FCTA, under the leadership of Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello has zero tolerance for infractions on waterways and any violations of the FCT Master plan which could result in the loss of lives and properties.

He urged residents to respect the Abuja master plan, the building codes, and environmental precautions in order to stay alive in the community.

The DG who directed an assessment tour of the affected areas informed that the heavy floods which totally submerged the access road to the Dogongada community in the Lokogoma District were a result of the pool of water from Apo District.

Three residents caught in the floods were rescued by local divers stationed by FEMA in red-flag areas of the Territory.

Leading the Search and Rescue team on an assessment tour, Acting Director, Forecasting Response and Mitigation, Mrs. Florence Wenegieme informed that the heavy floods at Apo Dutse road which affected residents living at Amina Court, Brains and Hammers traceable to narrow box culvert and ongoing construction along the river bank.

The story was the same at  Damagaza in Gudu District where an ongoing construction near the river led to heavy flooding.

Mrs. Wenegieme appealed to residents not to drive in heavy pools of water, but to wait and allow the water to subside. She added that FEMA would soon embark on the posting of early warning signs in vulnerable areas.

Nkechi Isa 

Head, PRU