We must secure safe, flood-free environment – Oborevwori

OCHUKO AKUOPHA FROM VANGUARD

GOVERNOR Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Monday, emphasized the need to address the challenge of indiscriminate construction of buildings in waterways to secure a safe and flood-free environment.

Speaking when National Executive members of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners visited him at
Government House, Asaba, Oborevwori said a safe, secure and flood-free environment required the cooperation and strong partnership of the regulatory officials and the public.

Members of the institute are in the state capital for the 54th Annual Conference and General Meeting of the institute holding at the Event Centre , Asaba.

The Governor charged officials of the Town Planning Office and other regulatory authorities to ensure strict compliance with the town planning and urban development laws.

While noting the theme of the Conference “Planning Nigerian Settlements for Climate Change Adaptation and Flood Resilience,” was timely, he said: “town planning is a critical factor in preventing flooding in our urban centers and communities.

“The indiscriminate construction of buildings on waterways is something that must be addressed.
This is a very timely topic, given the growing concerns about the problems associated with Climate Change and Global Warming.

“As you may be aware, Delta State is a coastal state and faced with the problems of erosion and flooding. The Delta State capital, Asaba, and the commercial capital,Warri, are two of the hardest hit. But I am glad to inform you that the problem of flooding in Asaba has been reduced because of the storm drainage.

“Before now when there is rain, there will be flood everywhere but today it’s not so and the Warri storm drainage project is on-going and about 70 percent has been done.

“If not because of the challenges of having structures on our waterways that are not supposed to be there; from reliable information, your hear town planners giving approvals to build on waterways, which is very bad.

“I have given order that any structure on the waterways that disturbs the flow of water should be brought down. So, town planners have a lot of work to do in Delta State.”

Earlier in his remarks, National President of the Institute Mr. Nathaniel Atebije, said the conference would provide a platform to interrogate the challenges of Climate…