Following the high impact of floods witnessed within the metropolis as a result of downpour which killed 2 and destroyed millions of properties, the Katsina State Government as part of measures to mitigate the impact of flooding has ordered the state’s Urban and Regional Planning Board (URPB) to demolish all buildings erected on waterways in the state.
Deputy Governor Faruq Jobe gave the directive shortly after inspecting some flooded areas within Katsina metropolis.
He also urged the board to identify and pull down all structures erected on waterway channels to allow the free flow of water on natural waterways and those constructed by the government.
Jobe added that illegal structures and indiscriminate dumping of waste by residents, particularly in drainages, were the cause of the recent flood that ravaged Sabon-Ungwa, Tudun Katsira, Kofar Kaura, Kofar Marusa, and Kofar Kwaya, all within the metropolis.
The deputy governor, also cautioned residents to stop dumping waste indiscriminately, building waterways, and promoting good hygiene practices to arrest floods in the state.
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He further explained that the previous government of Aminu Masari expended billions of naira on the construction of drainages to tackle flooding but some “bad eggs” had truncated the government’s efforts by building on waterways.
To mitigate the flood, Jobe said the present administration of Dikko Radda has commenced the expansion and rehabilitation of drainages in the state.
He, however, said the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has been directed to assess the immediate needs of the recent flood victims for onward provision of relief materials by the government.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
