Damaturu residents beg FG over abandoned project
The residents of Pompomari and Nayinawa communities in Damaturu, have appealed to the federal government to resume work on its flooding and erosion control project in the area.
The project is part of Ecological projects of the government.
The residents, from the two communities, which are occupied by hundreds of households, said they have been suffering from annual flood for years, which kept destroying lives and properties.
When Kanem Trust visited, drainages in the area have become waterlogged; breeding mosquitos and posing threats to parents who have little children around.
The Ward Head of Pompomari, Bulama Musa, said the project, which was designed to construct drainages that would connect the rain water causing flood in his domain to a discharge point would save the lives of residents.
"For months now, the project has stopped, we are afraid that it was abandoned. Government should mobilize the contractors to site so that they can save the lives of thousands in the next rainy season," he said.
Another resident, Mohammad Suleiman, who lost his son to the flood months ago, lamented that only those who lost their loved ones could know the danger of abandoning the project.
"My son fall into the water, and a good Samaritan tried to rescue him. Unfortunately, the water velocity was too strong, so they were all drowned.
He appealed to federal government to expedite action on the project.
Kanem Trust recalled that, while inspecting the project few months ago, the Senator representating Yobe East, Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim, said theproject was his constituency project funded by Ecological Funds Office, under the Accelerated Flood and Soil Erosion Control Works.
He also explained that it was a comprehensive and integrated drainage system that will harvest water into two dams for irrigation farming for residents of Damaturu.