IN a move to address years of persistent flooding, the Delta State Government has commenced extensive flood control works in Sapele, including the opening of waterways and installation of an artificial canal to channel water from affected communities into River Ethiope.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ejiro Jamani, who supervised the flag-off, said the strategic opening of waterways was designed to minimize property demolitions, noting that only unavoidable obstructions would be removed.
He explained that the intervention, which involved dredging, clearing blocked channels, and constructing artificial canals and culverts, was expected to bring an end to the devastating floods that have plagued the area for years.
The commissioner disclosed that similar flood control projects were ongoing in other parts of the state to prevent overflow that could displace residents during the peak of the rainy season.
He expressed concern over the continued approval of building permits by town planners without adequate surveys while also reiterating the government’s zero-tolerance stance on indiscriminate waste disposal and construction on natural waterways.
Jamani also commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his commitment to environmental protection and the welfare of residents, noting that the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) had been mobilized to work in flood-prone areas.
Some residents, speaking to newsmen, expressed their gratitude to the state government for the intervention, saying that the community had endured over a decade of recurring floods that destroyed property and posed serious health risks.
