The Akwa Ibom State Government has intensified efforts to prevent flooding and protect lives and property following recent heavy rainfall, with the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources (Petroleum and Solid Minerals), Nsikak Ekong, emphasising proper waste management and environmental compliance as key to addressing the challenge.
Speaking during an interview with journalists, Ekong said Governor Umo Eno had responded swiftly by directing relevant agencies to implement emergency measures in affected areas.
According to the commissioner, the Governor mobilised the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), the Akwa Ibom State Emergency Management Agency (AKSEMA) and the Ministry of Works to clear blocked drainage channels, assess flood-affected communities and implement measures to reduce the impact of flooding.
Ekong highlighted the Governor’s Waste-to-Wealth Initiative, describing it as a sustainable waste management programme that also creates economic opportunities.
He said the initiative would see organic waste converted into fertiliser, while inorganic waste would be recycled into useful products.
The commissioner added that the government had launched a public awareness campaign to educate residents on the dangers of indiscriminate waste disposal and other practices that contribute to flooding.
He identified the dumping of refuse into drainage channels as one of the principal causes of flooding and urged residents to take greater responsibility for protecting the environment.
Ekong also cited the construction of buildings in unapproved locations and the practice of sweeping refuse into drains as factors worsening the problem.
He encouraged residents to separate organic and inorganic waste to facilitate collection and recycling by licensed waste handlers and off-takers, and advised households to use only approved private waste collectors and designated disposal points.
The commissioner warned against erecting structures in unauthorised locations, saying the government would enforce existing environmental laws and prosecute offenders.
He also cautioned individuals farming within the IBB drainage corridor to stop immediately, noting that compensation had already been paid for the affected land.
“The government will not tolerate farming activities around the IBB drainage corridor. Compensation has already been paid, and the area is meant for public infrastructure,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Director of Flood Control and Erosion, Okon Effiong, said desilting of drainage channels had begun at strategic locations across the state, starting from the Nkemba axis.
He said the exercise forms part of the government’s wider flood mitigation strategy aimed at improving water flow through drainage systems and reducing the impact of heavy rainfall.
Ekong reiterated that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility and urged residents to support government efforts by keeping their surroundings clean and adopting responsible waste management practices.
He said such cooperation would support the objectives of the state’s ARISE Agenda to build a cleaner, safer and more sustainable Akwa Ibom.
