Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has ordered the demolition of buildings obstructing designated drainage channels as part of a comprehensive strategy to tackle perennial flooding across the state.
The directive follows widespread flooding that recently inundated several parts of the state, disrupting businesses, damaging homes and leaving many residents stranded after days of heavy rainfall.
The governor said the government would take decisive action against structures erected on natural waterways and drainage corridors, blaming indiscriminate development for worsening the flooding situation.
Eno gave the directive on Wednesday while speaking with journalists after an unscheduled inspection of the Judiciary Staff Quarters project in Uyo.
He said no structure found on natural waterways or drainage routes would be spared, regardless of ownership or status, stressing that the government would no longer tolerate developments that obstruct the free flow of water and endanger lives and property.
The governor also unveiled plans to develop a new state flood and drainage master plan, saying the existing blueprint had become outdated due to rapid urbanisation and expanding infrastructure.
He directed the Commissioner for Environment to assemble engineers, environmental experts and other stakeholders to produce a modern flood management plan that would guide drainage construction, infrastructure development and flood mitigation across the state.
“We need to have a state flood and drainage master plan. The one we have is old. There are new developments that have taken place. We are bringing all our experts together and will develop the state flood master plan so that we can use it,” he said.
As part of the initiative, Eno announced the establishment of the Clean Akwa Ibom Brigade under the Ministry of Environment to ensure the regular clearing of drainage channels and strengthen flood prevention efforts.
He explained that the brigade would complement existing environmental agencies by focusing specifically on keeping drains free of blockages and ensuring waterways remain unobstructed.
The governor also directed the Ministry of Environment, the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency, and the Office of the Attorney-General to establish Environmental Sanitation Courts to prosecute sanitation offenders.
According to him, the courts will impose community service on violators, including clearing blocked drains and participating in environmental sanitation exercises, rather than relying solely on fines.
Eno further announced the strict enforcement of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, declaring that movement would be restricted across the state on the last Saturday of every month from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
He said commercial activities, ceremonies and even arriving travellers would not be exempted until the sanitation exercise was concluded.
The governor urged residents to support the government’s efforts by keeping their surroundings clean and complying with environmental regulations.
“We will do our part, but we also expect all of us as citizens to do our own part too, so that we can solve some of these problems,” he added.
During the inspection of the Judiciary Staff Quarters project, Eno expressed displeasure over what he described as the poor commitment of the contractors handling the project, noting that the site was deserted during official working hours.
He warned contractors to improve their commitment to project delivery, insisting that government projects must be executed diligently and completed within agreed timelines.