...as Environment Ministry calls for bid from contractors
• Drainage to also end Atiku Abubakar Way, Mechanic Village flood
Ubong Sampson - Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Government has secured a World Bank partnership for intervention on IBB Way flood issue which has eaten up the road to a very deplorable state, while rendering some adjoining streets impassable.
This reporter got a brief on the partnership and its progress so far, Saturday, in Uyo, when the Commissioner for Environment and Petroleum Resources, Rt. Hon. (Barr) Ekong Sampson led the State Coordinator of Nigeria Erosion And Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) and others from the ministry on an inspection tour to the flood site.
Briefing newsmen on the proposed project, the Akwa Ibom State NEWMAP Coordinator, Dr. Ubong Harrison, hinted that the drainage is designed to start from the lowest point of the catchment area - a spot at the site he described as "drainage 0.0" which is by a road that has been rendered impassable by the flood. He explained that beginning from there, the drainage will run through the C Division of the Nigeria Police along Aka Etinan road to the new stadium road, and down to Obot Idim, where there is another water channel from Shelter Afrique Estate which runs to its discharge point around Ikot Ekere in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA.
According to him, total distance from "drainage 0.0" to its discharge point is 7.5km, adding that there will be a bioremediation intervention structures to ensure the flood water does not affect the surrounding areas.
The Director also hinted that the intervention project will also bring solution to similar issue within the Atiku Abubakar and mechanic village areas, as according to him, the proposed drain at IBB will be massive enough to accommodate water that will be channeled from other minor flooded areas around.
"The cause of the flood is the lack of natural water channel in that part of Uyo, unlike the Uniuyo axis. Hence, the idea to procreate an artificial canal that will be so massive and be linked to other minor flooded areas including the mechanic village that will be linked through the back of the Idongesit Nkanga secretariat.
"This is a project that has been designed to provide a lasting solution to the flooding problem within the capital city. Working under the supervision of the world bank, we have so far carried out an extensive four safeguard studies. The first was the baseline study, where we documented the baseline condition of the whole of this area - baseline condition of the soil, water and human life around here.
"We have also done the environmental and social management plan, where we identified all the potential environmental and social impact of this project and we have provided sufficient mitigation measures. And by the requirement of World Bank, we have disclosed that document in all strategic locations within the state and even in Abuja for 21 days", Harrison said.
According to him, the idea of disclosing the document is to allow people make contributions to the document. "If they feel the mitigation measures are not enough, they are free to write directly to the minister and their recommendations will be incorporated into the document.
"We have also done livelihood need assessment of the whole of this stretch and we have also done what we call the resettlement action plan. In the world bank parlance, we resettle, rather than pay compensation. And for the records, this project is going to cover about 19 communities cutting across 3 LGAs. We are confident that the design finally cleared by the bank for us is rigorous enough to solve this problem once and for all", he added.
While crediting the progress so far to the support and guide from the government in the state under Udom Emmanuel, the Director was hopeful that eligible contractors will take advantage of the publicised call for bids and enter into the competition for the job which process he assured, will be transparent with leveled grounds for all bidders.
Also fielding questions from newsmen, the Environment Boss, Barr. Ekong Sampson stressed that the progress made so far in the pursuit for a lasting solution to this flood issue necessitated the inspection outing, adding that the relief is that there is huge prospect that work will commence at the site very soon.
"The government has been showing serious concern on this issue because this is one of the very important roads in the Uyo capital city. This clearly underscores the high sensitivity of government on issues affecting the masses which motivated government effort towards ensuring that the flooding issue at IBB way and its environs is addressed conclusively. The world bank has been very supportive and this partnership has brought hope to us.
"The request for bids are on as advertised in major platforms and we assure that the most eligible of the bidders will emerge in the end, one that will deliver the job in the best kind of quality we desire for a permanent solution to this disaster", he added.
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