FCTA provides succour to Gwagwalada flood victims

Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has donated assorted food items to residents of Gwagwalada Area Council as part of measures to cushion the effect of the massive destruction of lives and properties caused by torrential rainfalls last week.

Also, the administration has assured victims that plans have been concluded to assist them in the provisions of household utensils and building materials, after relevant government agencies might have ascertained the level of destruction and numbers of homes affected.

The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, who gave the assurance when she paid a condolence visit to victims of the affected communities, however, warned residents to stay off waterways to avoid future occurrence, Daily Times gathered.

Aliyu, who visited the scene along side other management staff of the administration also stressed the need for residents to be mindful of the environment, adding that the Environmental Protection Agency and FCT Development Control should be notified when constructions are carried out on waterways.

“We are all deeply touched as we wake up that fateful day in the morning on the 25th of this month to this natural disaster. These are one of the kind of occurrences this year that we cannot control and no matter the provisions, no matter the status of the communities, even in developed climes, it does happened. No matter the level of infrastructures in place, if it is meant to occur, it will occur.

“But this is also telling us to be mindful of the environment and also the Environmental Protection Agency and FCT Development Control should be notified when constructions are done on our waterways. Some people could be transferred newly and they could not know.

“The Development Control must be up and doing to also look at where waste and refuse are being dumped. Most of the times, our actions constitute 75 percent of blockages in our drainages. Let say that if we have two of this kind of occurrence in a year, the burden will be so much for the people. We feel your pains and we are here not only to sympathize with you, but on behalf of the Federal Capital Territory Administration to extend our hands of fellowship and our little token to cushion this effect. We are with you in prayers and God will not allow us to witness this again.”

The minister also assured that concerted efforts would be made to ensure that areas faced with ecological problem would be adequately tackled by the Federal Government, stressing that the Federal Capital Territory Administration, would not hesitate to liaise with NEMA to address other emergency problems.

In her brief, the representatives of Director General, FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Mrs. Florence Wenegieme, stated that as soon as the agency received the distress call on Saturday, July 25, the rescue and search team moved into action.

Wenegieme, who is the Deputy Director in charge of Forecasting, Response and Mitigation revealed that out of the six causalities there was a family of five that got drown in the flood, adding that four of them are yet to be found.

“There was a family of five that got drown in the water. Unfortunately, we were able to find one of the sons because the husband was not around, but he gave his consent that the child should be buried before he comes back. The search team is still ongoing to recover the bodies of the mother and other three children. Four of them are yet to be found. We have gone to Koton-karfe, yet we have not find them,” she affirmed.

Earlier, the Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Hon. Adamu Mustapha Danze, commended the FCT Minister of State for the quick response, just as he noted that residents are taking notes on the giant strides recorded in infrastructural provisions in the satellite towns.

Items donated include 300 bags of rice, 500 bags of maize, millet, sorghum, garri, beans, Noddles among other food stuff.