August 13, (THEWILL) – In order to reduce the effect of global warming and flooding, tackle water scarcity and improve security in the six states of Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba, the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced the evacuation of one million metres of drainages, drilling and installation of solar-powered boreholes and street lights across the region.
The Managing Director of the NEDC, Alhaji Goni Alkali, disclosed this on Tuesday, during the inspection of some completed solar-powered boreholes and ongoing evacuation of refuse dumps in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere Local Government Area of Borno state.
The initiative, he said, was in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as well as the federal and state governments Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme.
Alkali said the Commission is not only evacuating drainages but also providing potable water, stressing that within the Maiduguri metropolis alone over 50 solar-powered boreholes were provided, in addition to the ones in the local government areas.
Speaking in an interview with Journalists shortly after the inspection, Alkali said, “Our idea is to do two things at the same time. You know the effect of global warming and its consequences, one of which is flooding. To mitigate the effect of flooding, we are going to desilt one million metres of drainages in the six states of the Northeast. Here in Maiduguri, we are targeting about 300,000 metres of drainage in this rainy season.
The exercise, Alkali said, will not only complement the efforts of the state governments but also provide jobs and create healthy communities. According to him, the solar-powered boreholes will help address the problem of water shortage across the metropolis whenever there is no electricity.
On the issue of security, Alkali said the commission has also installed solar-powered street lights across the region to improve the security and safety of the people so that they can move and do their businesses freely at night.
The NEDC MD also disclosed that plans are underway, in collaboration with the Borno State Government, to provide a comprehensive solution to the Bulunkutu drainage system, adding that very soon a team of engineers will be deployed to the site to assess the area.
On waste management, he said, “We are planning to bring modern dump sites so that people would stop dumping waste in the drainages, as well as convert the waste into wealth and create jobs for youths through recycling plants.”
He explained that the whole idea was to improve sanitation, hygiene and the security of the people of the region.
I am Ladi Dapson, a general writer with thewill. I cover Borno and Yobe states respectively.
I based Maiduguri, Borno State Capital.
I can be reached via [email protected].
Very high and kind regards!
