Sen. Buka Ibrahim (APC-Yobe East) has urged Nigerians to own, maintain and protect government’s projects in their neighbourhoods so as to ensure the sustainability of the projects.
The lawmaker gave the advice at the inauguration and handover of the Rijau Flood and Erosion Control Project, executed by the Ecological Funds Office (EFO), in Rijau, Rijau Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State.
Ibrahim said that the project was one of the 18 ecological intervention projects that were executed across the six geo-political zones of the country.
He said that the project would address and control some of the challenges of flood and erosion facing the local government area.
“The Federal Government’s intervention projects are, therefore, intended to bring relief to the sufferings of the people of the community, while reducing danger to lives and property, associated with erosion and persistent flooding,’’ he said.
Ibrahim charged the members of the Rijau community to take responsibility for maintaining and protecting the project, while preventing indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the newly constructed drainage channels.
He said that the execution of ecological intervention projects across the country had demonstrated the sincerity of purpose of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in efforts to promote justice, equity and fair play in the country.
Mr Udochi Nwachukwu, EFO’s Deputy Director, Erosion and Flood Control, who represented Dr Habiba Lawal, the Permanent Secretary of EFO, at the event, said that the project would give the community a sense of belonging.
He said that the project was initiated, following a request by Rep. Shehu Sale, member representing Magama/Rijua Constituency in the House of Representatives.
“The project, which commenced in June 2017 and was completed in April this year, will ensure safety of lives and property as well as improve the general well being of the people.
“However, the people’s protection and maintenance of govt’s projects will ensure that the resources which the Federal Government had committed into the projects would not waste,’’ he added.
Alhaji Bello Bako, the Chairman of Rijau LGA, thanked President Buhari for starting and completing the project.
“I thank the Almighty God for this project; we appreciate the FG’s efforts because this is what we have since been praying for but with God’s intervention, we now have it in place.
“This project is a good one; during the rainy season, our children could not go to school and our women could not go to the market because of flood, as water would have covered the whole place and the foot bridge.
“But with this intervention, lives would be saved; all the people of Rijau are very grateful for the project,’’ he added. (NAN)
