Following the recent downpour which submerged 116 houses in the Trademore estate at Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory on 23rd June, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mr. Olusade Adesola has declared the area a disaster zone after an assessment visit to the area. “Having seen the extent of the flooding, we hereby declare the Trademore area a disaster zone that needs immediate action to remedy further damages and loss of lives and properties.“This is part of steps to address the incessant flooding at the Trademore Estate. “I want to assure residents that adequate steps will be taken to forestall further damages to properties and loss of lives to flooding at the Estate.”
Adesola disclosed that a Taskforce on Flood Mitigation in the FCT, comprised of heads of relevant agencies of the FCT, would assess the situation and make recommendations for remedial actions.
“The Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) who chairs the task force on flood mitigation in the FCT is here. “The Commissioner of Police and other officials of the FCT, particularly FEMA, Development Control, and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board are all here. “They saw what we saw, and they are now ready to go and evolve solutions that will immediately address the situation,” he said.
Adesola, who expressed shock at the level of flooding at the estate also decried development activities in flood-prone areas with serious consequences to lives and properties.
The Permanent Secretary also expressed sadness at the return of people to the affected properties, a few days after the flooding disaster, in spite of the dangers of imminent future incidents
Mr Adesola noted that NiMET had earlier made predictions of more heavy downpours that may lead to flooding and destruction of weak buildings, hence the resident could have taken precautionary measures to avoid being caught unaware. Also assuring that the FCT Administration would do everything possible within its powers to contain the ugly situation.
Adesola was accompanied by the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Mr. Shehu Hadi; the Director of Development Control, Mr. Mukhtar Galadima; FCT Commissioner of Police, Garba Haruna, and other senior officials of the FCTA.
