The Borno State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has gone far in ongoing dredging of Rivers to prevent perennial flooding during rainy seasons in different parts of Maiduguri, the State’s highly populated capital. The work is being carried out on the orders of Governor Kashim Shettima who approved the release of funds about two weeks ago.
Even though the Nigerian Meteorological Agency predicts normal rainfall in Borno State this year, Governor Shettima was concerned that the prediction of flooding in neighbouring Adamawa State by the Agency meant Borno should also prepare since all predictions have margins of error.
The State’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mohammed Dili has been actively on sites supervising the exercises which commenced with the dredging of River Ngadda, beneath the Lagos Bridge towards the densely populated Gwange in Maiduguri.
“The dredging exercise commenced on 13th April, 2017 already more than six hundred metres is so far covered. The dredging of the River is expected to ease the flow of water, prevent flooding and enhance economic activities down stream as more hectares of land will be put into cultivation of Rice, Vegetable Crops, and Fish Farming as ponds will be provided at strategic points to encourage fish farming in the State. The dredging exercise of River Ngadda is also expected to cover from Lagos Bridge, Gwange, Custom bridge, Gamboru Market Area upto Farm Centre Maiduguri, also River Ngaddabul will be dredged commencing from the Shehu Garbai School, Eye Hospital/Dental hospital bridge, Kyari Park, BRTV, El-Kanemi bridge up to the the point of discharge to River Ngadda to further enhance the flow of water, prevent flooding and increase economic activities downstream” the Commissioner explained in an update submitted to Governor Shettima.
It is expected that the dredging being carried out directly by the State’s Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to save cost, would greatly prevent flooding that had been associated with rainy seasons for decades.
Our correspondent reports that Governor Shettima’s administration has since completed the construction of roads an drainages in numerous populated areas like Hausari, Gwange, Bulumkutu Abuja, Bulumkutu tsallake and Abujan talakawa where citizens suffered the pains of flooding for many years.
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