The Akwa Ibom State Government has intensified efforts to prevent flooding and protect lives and property following recent rainfall incidents, with the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources (Petroleum and Solid Minerals), Nsikak Ekong, highlighting proper waste management and environmental compliance as critical to tackling the challenge.
Speaking during an interview with journalists, the commissioner commended Governor Umo Eno for his swift response and proactive intervention, noting that the Governor immediately mobilised relevant agencies, including 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 the affected areas.
He said the agencies were directed to clear blocked drainage channels, assess flood-affected locations, and implement measures to minimise the impact of flooding across the state.
The commissioner highlighted Governor Eno’s Waste-to-Wealth Initiative, describing it as a sustainable approach to waste management that also creates economic opportunities.
He explained that under the initiative, organic waste will be processed into fertiliser, while inorganic waste will be recycled into valuable products.
Ekong explained that the intervention also includes an extensive public sensitisation campaign aimed at educating residents on the dangers of indiscriminate waste disposal and other practices that contribute to flooding.
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According to the commissioner, indiscriminate refuse disposal, particularly into drainage channels, remains one of the major causes of flooding. He urged residents to take greater responsibility for protecting the environment.
He also identified the construction of buildings in unapproved locations and the practice of sweeping refuse into drains as additional factors worsening the flooding situation. He encouraged residents to separate their waste by using different bags for organic and inorganic materials to make collection and recycling easier for approved waste handlers and off-takers.
He further advised residents to engage licensed private waste collectors and ensure refuse is disposed of only at designated collection points.
On environmental regulation, the commissioner warned against erecting structures in unapproved areas, stressing that the government would enforce existing laws and prosecute offenders.
He specifically cautioned individuals cultivating crops within the IBB drainage corridor to immediately discontinue the practice, noting that compensation had already been paid for the affected area.
“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 stated.
Meanwhile, the Director of Flood Control and Erosion, Okon Effiong, stated that the desilting of drainage channels has commenced at strategic locations across the state, beginning from the Nkemba axis.
He said the exercise forms part of the government’s broader flood prevention strategy aimed at ensuring the free flow of water and reducing the impact of heavy rainfall.
The commissioner reiterated that environmental protection is a shared responsibility and urged residents to support government efforts by keeping their surroundings clean and adopting responsible waste management practices.
He noted that such cooperation aligns with the vision of the ARISE Agenda to build a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable Akwa Ibom State.
