By Godwin Kingsley, Lafia Nasarawa State Government has said it will build houses for indigenes in four communities affected by flood disaster across the state.
Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura stated this at the 2014 World Environmental Day celebration on Thursday, in Lafia.
Prompt News Online reports that the affected communities are Tunga in Awe local government area, Umaisha in Toto local government area, Otiya in Doma local government area and Guto in Nasarawa local government area.
Al-Makura who was represented by Mohammed Danazumi, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs said the building of the houses was in response to the environmental devastation especially flooding witnessed in the affected areas.
He said the environmental disaster has led to loss of lives and properties and destruction of farmlands worth millions of naira.
“In our effort to cushion the effects of the flooding, I undertook aerial assessment of the affected communities and farmlands with a view to responding appropriately to the situation.
“Furthermore we constituted a task force which carried out an assessment of the damages caused by the flood. This was aimed at complementing the effort of the federal government in tackling the devastation of the flood”, he said.
Al-Makura also revealed that the state government would also provide basic infrastructure such as primary health care clinics, schools, water supply, roads and other facilities in the affected communities.
Al-makura who added that the state government was determined to address the recurrence of erosion across the state, revealed that efforts were in top gear to construct drainages in major towns in the state.
“This is in consonance with our policy thrust aimed at developing our urban centres in conformity with global new trends.
“As we celebrate this year’s world environmental day, I call on you to join the advocacy for the protection of our environment against disasters occasioned by floods, erosions and deforestation” He said
He then urge people of the state to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse particularly in drainages and culverts as well as cutting of trees.
Earlier in his welcome address, Adamu Muazu, state commissioner for environment and natural resources revealed that the most parts of the country including Nasarawa state was facing massive deforestation every year.
“You may wish to know that to combat desertification, United Nations standard for forest reserves for each state requires between 20-25 percent of the total land area. Unfortunately, in Nasarawa state, only 6.4 percent of the land mass is under forest reserve”, he stated.
He however, urged people of the state to conserve the trees and entire environment from destruction and ensure to always clear drainages and streets of refuse and debris.
