Flooding: Nsukka LG to demolish houses, structures built on waterways

Mon, Jul 27, 2020
By publisher
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Environment

COSMAS Ugwueze, Chairman, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, on Monday said that his administration would demolish all illegal houses and structures built on top of gutters or water channels to check flooding.

Ugwueze in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Nsukka stated that the plan, besides ensuring free flow of water in drains, was to restore the original master plan of Nsukka town.

“Very soon the Department of Works and Town Planning in the council will start removing illegal structures erected on top of gutter or on water channels.

“The illegal structures do not only prevent free flow of water during rainfall but also deface the beauty of Nsukka town.

“The illegal structures cause flooding during rainy season and most times lead to destruction of houses and render people homeless,” he said.

The council boss also said that as part of measures to restore the beauty of Nsukka, his administration would embark on planting of trees and flowers in the urban centre.

“I will emulate Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s good example in planting flowers and trees which has helped to beautify and add aesthetic to Enugu, the state capital.

“Flowers and trees also help to check erosion as well as serve as wind-beakers.

“Planting of flowers and trees also help us to breathe fresh air. They release more oxygen to the environment and absorb carbon dioxide which human beings breathe out,” the LG boss said.

The Chairman also urged residents to always keep their environment clean, maintain proper hygiene and ensure good health.

He said that his administration would not tolerate indiscriminate dumping of wastes inside gutters that would prevent free flow of water in drainage systems during rainfall.

“Residents should keep their environments neat, clean the gutters in front of their houses and shops regularly.

”This will help them to breathe fresh air that will promote good health.

“Every effort of government to ensure good healthcare for the people will be an exercise in futility if the environment is dirty and smelly,” he said.

It would be recalled that Ugwueze, who was the council’s vice-chairman, was sworn-in as substantive chairman by Ugwuanyi on June 29.

This was as result of the sudden death of the erstwhile Nsukka Chairman, Chief Patrick Omeje, on June 16.

NAN

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– July 27, 2020 16:10 GMT |

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