FEMA To Partner NSE To Check Flooding In FCT

The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Thursday pledged to partner the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Giri Branch, FCT, to check the impending flood menace in Gwagwalada Area Council.

The Director-General of FEMA, Abbas Idriss, in a statement signed by Nkechi Isa, the Public Relations Officer, confirmed the partnership in Abuja.

Receiving the NSE Giri branch executives on a working visit, Idriss appealed to the NSE to deploy its professionalism to ensure the end of the perennial flooding in the FCT.

He explained that it could be achieved through proper land use planning, integrating efficient water defence mechanism and appropriate design that reduced vulnerability.

Idriss further said that quality improvement in construction, provision of sea walls, flood protection structures, drainage systems and earth retention schemes among other interventions could be deployed.

According to Idriss, the engineering profession is dynamic and engineers play a vital role in town planning.

“Engineering infrastructure is vital in reducing flood risk in a city like the FCT.

“You don’t need to wait for government, rather you should report construction infractions within your environment in order to save lives,” he said.

He directed the society to channel their members’ reports through the 112 emergency toll free number, also reach out on FEMA ‘s website; www.fema.abj.gov.ng or through the FCTA Citizens’ Engagement Website and App for proper actions.

Earlier, the leader of the NSE delegation, Hamid Abdulkarim, said the society was in FEMA to inform and invite the agency to participate in its annual public lecture.

He commended FEMA for effective service delivery and promised the society’s willingness to join in addressing flood cases in the territory.

FEMA recently disclosed that Gwagwalada and Abuja Municipal Area Councils will experience flooding in the year.

The prediction came from the release of the 2022 Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services.