NAN-AE-5
Flood
Jos, July 5, 2017 (NAN) Mr Abudullahi Abbas, the Plateau Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals, on Wednesday said indiscriminate human activities were responsible for flooding in the state.
Abbas in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos, noted that the state was blessed with an excellent topography which facilitated free flow of water.
He, however, identified building houses along water ways, dumping of waste in drainages, erection of houses without drainage and poor drainage among the major factors leading to flooding in the state.
“We on the Plateau are not meant to be afraid of flooding, because of our topography, if only we avoid the dumping of waste in drainage.
‘’We should also desist from building houses on water ways and constructing houses on low lands and very close to the river banks,” Abbas urged.
He said that deforestation and farming practices in the state had led to the loss of the soil, leading to soil erosion.
“Most rivers and streams now flow perennially because the rains wash the soil particles into the rivers and streams leading to massive siltation (excessive fine sand particles).
‘’So, during the dry season these rivers do not have sufficient water.”
The commissioner expressed concern that people who had their houses washed away by flooding in the past had gone back to rebuild the structure in the same spot.
Abbas said that the ministry had been sensitising the people on ways to identify flash flood points and how to mitigate flooding.
He said traditional rulers in the state were also sensitised, on the need to create awareness in their communities on the danger associated with flooding. (NAN)
UBO/AOM/DUA
(Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Dada Ahmed