Flooding: Akwa Ibom gov orders demolition of buildings on drainage channels

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has ordered the demolition of buildings erected on designated drainage channels across the state as part of measures to tackle the recurring flooding affecting parts of Uyo metropolis and other communities.

The governor gave the directive on Wednesday after an unscheduled inspection of the Judiciary Staff Quarters project in Uyo.

He warned that the government would no longer tolerate illegal developments that obstruct waterways and worsen flooding, stressing that any structure found on drainage routes would be demolished regardless of ownership, status or previous approvals.

The directive follows last Thursday’s flooding, which displaced many residents in parts of Uyo, including Nkemba Street (Abak Road), Itu Road, Osongama Estate and Shelter Afrique, as well as some communities in Abak Local Government Area.

Eno said, “Government will no longer tolerate developments that endanger public safety by blocking waterways and worsening flooding in surrounding communities. Any building henceforth that is found on designated drainage routes will be demolished regardless of ownership, status or previous approvals.”

The governor also announced plans to develop a new flood and drainage master plan to address the state’s changing urban landscape.

According to him, the existing flood management blueprint no longer reflects the realities of rapid urbanisation and expanding infrastructure.

He said, “We need to have a state flood and drainage master plan. The one we have is old. There are new developments that have taken place. We are bringing all our experts together and will develop the state flood master plan so that we can use it.”

Eno said he had directed the Commissioner for Environment to immediately assemble environmental experts, engineers and other stakeholders to produce a modern flood and drainage master plan that would guide infrastructure development, drainage construction and flood mitigation across the state.

As part of the renewed environmental initiative, the governor announced the establishment of the Clean Akwa Ibom Brigade, a specialised unit under the Ministry of Environment that will focus on clearing drainage channels and preventing flooding.

He explained that the brigade would complement existing environmental agencies by concentrating specifically on drainage maintenance and flood control.

The governor also directed the Ministry of Environment, the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency and the Office of the Attorney-General to establish Environmental Sanitation Courts to prosecute offenders who violate sanitation laws.

According to him, the courts would impose community service rather than relying solely on fines, requiring offenders to participate in environmental clean-up exercises, particularly the clearing of blocked drains.

Eno further announced stricter enforcement of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, declaring that movement would be restricted across the state on the last Saturday of every month between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

He warned that ceremonies, commercial activities and even arriving travellers would not be exempted from the restriction until the sanitation exercise was concluded.

The governor urged residents to complement the government’s efforts by keeping their surroundings clean and complying with environmental regulations.

“We will do our part, but we also expect all of us as citizens to do our own part too, so that we can solve some of these problems,” he said.

Speaking on the Judiciary Staff Quarters project, Eno expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work, describing it as unacceptable for contractors and their workers to abandon project sites during official working hours.