From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
In its bid to tackle cases of natural disasters across the country, the Federal Government has started work on Flood Control project and reclamation of gully erosion sites to address the age-long ecological challenges in Dekina town, the headquarters of Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi state.
Our correspondent who monitored progress of work on the project in Sabongari area of the town on Tuesday in Dekina reports that work had actually commenced.
Engr Babangida Seidu, the engineer in charge of the project said work actually commenced about a month ago with sand filling and reclamation operations on the Sabongari area, one of the three major gully sites in the town.
He said that the project, being executed by the Ecological Fund Office (EFO), was inaugurated by Prof. Stephen Ocheni, former Minister of State, Labour and Employment as one of the ecological intervention projects approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for 2019.
Seidu said though the project was billed for completion within six months, it was likely to span nine months in view of the rainy season saying the project could not go on anytime there was rain.
The site engineer said with the reclamation of sites in Sabongari almost over, channelisation and blinding work would soon commence in earnest.
Dekina community stakeholders who also spoke with Our Correspondent expressed delight that the erosion menace which had devastated the people for many years is receiving the desired attention adding that the intervention was a big relief.
The Eje of Dekina, Alhaji Usman Obaje, expressed his gratitude to the Federal Government and to the former minister for the effort to address the gully erosion menace in the town.
The Royal father who was represented by the Community Liaison Officer, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris said the erosion had threatened the socio-economic life of the people for over 30 years washing away the community land and properties into the river.
A resident of the Sabongari area of the town, Mr Yahaya Salihu said, “you can see the work going on now. It is a thing of joy. I am very happy. This menace has been disturbing us for over 30 years.
“We have been crying to government to come to our aid. I see this time as God’s time and it is the best. We are grateful to the Federal Government Prof. Ocheni who is not even from this Local Government”, he said.
It would be recalled that Prof. Ocheni at the inauguration on May 10, had said that the project was expected to check the erosion menace and flooding as well as improve the environmental condition of Dekina after years of untold hardship and neglect.
“This is also a testimony to the administration’s promise that no part of the country will suffer any neglect owing to its geographical location or political consideration”, the former minister had said.
