FLOOD MASTER PLAN: Gov. Eno To Establish Clean Akwa Ibom Brigade
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to address perennial flooding in the State, announcing plans to develop a new flood and drainage master plan, establish a specialised environmental task force, enforce monthly sanitation exercises and demolish all structures obstructing natural drainage channels.
The Governor disclosed the measures while speaking to journalists after an unscheduled inspection tour of the Judiciary Staff Quarters project in Uyo, describing effective flood control as a shared responsibility between government and residents.
Governor Eno explained that the state’s existing flood management blueprint no longer reflects the realities of rapid urbanisation and expanding infrastructure.
He said he has directed the Commissioner for Environment to immediately assemble environmental experts, engineers and relevant stakeholders to produce a modern flood and drainage master plan that will guide infrastructure development, drainage construction and flood mitigation across the state.
“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.”
As part of the renewed environmental initiative, the Governor announced the establishment of the Clean Akwa Ibom Brigade, a dedicated unit under the Ministry of Environment that will focus on keeping drainage channels free of obstructions and ensuring effective flood control.
He explained that the Brigade would complement existing environmental agencies by concentrating specifically on drainage maintenance and flood prevention, stressing that flood control requires a different operational approach from routine waste collection.
Governor Eno also issued one of his strongest warnings against illegal developments, declaring that any building found on designated drainage routes would be demolished regardless of ownership, status or previous approvals.
He said the government would no longer tolerate developments that endanger public safety by blocking waterways and worsening flooding in surrounding communities.
The Governor further directed the Ministry of Environment, the 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 regulations.
Rather than relying solely on monetary penalties, he said the courts would impose community service on offenders, requiring them to participate in environmental clean-up activities, particularly the clearing of blocked drains.
Governor Eno equally announced a stricter enforcement of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, declaring that movement would be prohibited 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 had been concluded.
He maintained that while government would continue investing in drainage infrastructure and flood management, residents must also demonstrate greater environmental responsibility by keeping their surroundings clean and complying with sanitation 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.”
Governor Eno said the new measures form part of his administration’s broader commitment to protecting lives, safeguarding public infrastructure and building a cleaner, safer and more environmentally sustainable Akwa Ibom State.
On the Judiciary quarters project, he expressed displeasure over the laxity and nonchalant attitude of contractors handling the project, saying it was unacceptable to have project sites deserted by contractors and their workers at the peak of work hour.