The Federal Government has commissioned an erosion and flood control project at Patigi town (Phase I) in Patigi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State.
The project to stop flooding and erosion ravaging the community was executed through the Ecological Fund Office (EFO) in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
Senator Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki, Minister of State for Transportation, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the commissioning ceremony, stated that the completion of the project has underscored the Federal Government’s concerted effort and sincerity of purpose in tackling the problems of the people in its commitment to making life more meaningful, adding that there is no doubt the project will encourage and improve the socio-economic activities and the general well-being of the people of the community and beyond.
The project is one of the 18 federal government ecological intervention projects for the fourth quarter of 2018 awarded for execution by the Federal Executive Council on 8th May, 2019.
The project was initiated by the Patigi Emirate Council through the late Emir Alhaji Ibrahim Chatta Umar. The Federal Government agreed with the late Emir on the importance of this project in addressing the devastating effects of flood and erosion.
Saraki said, “This commissioning and handing over is significant as it will enable the Community to take ownership of the project in order to ensure its proper maintenance and sustainability. I therefore call on everyone in this Community to see the project as theirs (indeed it is) and guard it jealously. The Community should also prevent the misuse of the project by dumping debris and refuse in the drainage channels. The consequence of filling the drainage with refuse will naturally lead to blockage and another flooding and erosion.”
She also expressed appreciation of the federal government to people of the community, the contractor and the consultant for their co-operation and efforts at ensuring a peaceful and conducive environment for the successful completion of the project.
Speaking on the need for a healthy maintenance culture, she implored members of the community to ensure effectiveness of the project by preventing indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drainage channels.
“Every member of the Community must play its part in ensuring the benefits of this project are not lost. Dumping of debris and refuse in the drainage channels will lead to blockage and flooding and erosion. It is a common benefit for all community members therefore it requires a common effort by all of you,” she said.