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Flooding: Plateau govt expands waterways, clears drainage systems
The Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA) has intensified efforts towards clearing drainage systems and expanding waterways across the Jos-Bukuru metropolis to avert urban flooding.
The Director-General of PEPSA, Samuel Dapiya, said on Monday that the intervention followed recurring flash floods caused largely by blocked drainage channels resulting from indiscriminate waste disposal.
According to him, although heavy rainfalls are seasonal, many flooding incidents in the metropolis were worsened by human activities that obstruct the free flow of rainwater.
Mr Dapiya said the agency had desilted and cleared drainage channels from Miango junction to Educare Private School to improve water flow and minimise flooding.
He added that the agency would continue to monitor the affected areas after subsequent rainfall to determine whether additional engineering or environmental measures would be required.
The PEPSA boss also said personnel and equipment had been deployed to Lugard Road by UTC, where a blocked culvert had forced floodwater onto the road, causing traffic congestion and posing risks to motorists, businesses and other road users.
He attributed the blockage to indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels by residents, motorists and business owners.
“Our assessment revealed that plastic bottles, nylon materials, food waste, cartons and other refuse accumulated in the culvert over time, preventing the free flow of water,” he said.
Mr Dapiya said blocked drainage systems often resulted in flooded roads, damaged homes and businesses, destruction of public infrastructure, traffic disruption, environmental pollution and increased public health risks.
He noted that clearing blocked drainage channels required significant public resources that could otherwise be channelled into development projects.
The DG urged residents to dispose of waste only at designated collection points and refrain from dumping refuse into drainage systems, culverts, waterways and open spaces.
He also called on members of the public to report anyone found disposing of refuse in drainage channels or other unauthorised locations to PEPSA or the relevant authorities.
Mr Dapiya reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting lives, property, and the environment through sustained environmental sanitation and flood-prevention measures.
He stressed that effective environmental protection required the collective efforts of government and residents.
“Protecting the environment is a shared responsibility. By disposing of waste properly, residents can help reduce flooding, protect public infrastructure and promote a cleaner and healthier Plateau,” he said.
(NAN)
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has recorded 3,200 confirmed Ebola cases, including 1,405 deaths, as the outbreak continues to spread across six provinces, according to the country’s latest situation report.
The report, which covers data up to Saturday, showed that 571 patients have recovered, while 773 others remain in isolation and under medical supervision.
Within the previous 24 hours, health authorities recorded 125 new infections and 51 deaths, underscoring the continued transmission of the virus.
Ituri remains epicentre
The outbreak, declared on 15 May, is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, although candidate vaccines are undergoing evaluation.
According to the report, Ituri Province continues to bear the brunt of the outbreak, accounting for 89 per cent of all confirmed infections nationwide.
Health authorities attributed the sustained spread of the virus to population movements, insecurity, artisanal mining activities and cross border travel involving Uganda and South Sudan.
They noted that the outbreak remains in a phase of sustained transmission, with a high level of virus circulation across affected communities.
The report also highlighted mounting pressure on treatment facilities, particularly in North Kivu Province, where 171 patients are occupying centres designed for 141 beds.
Nationwide, Ebola treatment centres have reached an occupancy rate of 82.1 per cent, reflecting the increasing burden on the country’s health system.
Authorities said surveillance and response measures would be intensified to curb transmission and prevent further spread of the disease.
Case in Uganda
The latest figures from the DRC come as neighbouring Uganda moves closer to being declared Ebola free.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that Uganda began the mandatory 42-day countdown after discharging its last Ebola patient from an isolation unit.
Under World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, a country can only be declared Ebola free if no new cases are recorded during the 42 -day period.
Preparedness in Nigeria
As the outbreak worsens in Central Africa, Nigerian health authorities have intensified surveillance and emergency preparedness to reduce the risk of cross border transmission.
PREMIUM TIMES previously reported that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) activated its Emergency Operations Centre, strengthened screening at points of entry and heightened surveillance across states following the declaration of the outbreak in the DRC and Uganda.
READ ALSO: CEPI begins first human trial of Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine
The federal government has also identified 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory as being at high risk of Ebola infection based on a dynamic risk assessment and has urged state governments to strengthen surveillance, isolation capacity and infection prevention measures.
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