By Ndahi Marama,
Following the devastating flood and global warming which has posed significant damages to critical private and public infrastructures, the North East Development Commission (NEDC) has engaged the services of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) to assess and provide professional advice on rebuilding roads and bridges that were hitherto damaged in the region.
Several roads in the six states of the Northeast have been cut off by flood resulting from excessive rainfall due to climate change, while some bridges in the region collapsed, thus making accessibility to many communities difficult.
The Managing Director of the Commission, Mohammed Alkali, who presided over an emergency meeting with the NSE representatives at the Commission’s headquarters in Maiduguri on Friday said, “although there was a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NEDC and NSE as part of the mandate in developing the region, it is very important to interface and provide a lasting solution to the short, medium and long term durable solutions to the environmental degradation and other challenges in the North Eastern states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba that have experienced flood devastation this year”.
Alkali informed that the terms of reference would be produced immediately after a robust deliberation with all bodies for the committee to swing into action.
He said the situation calls for urgent approach as the entire states have witnessed the disaster of collapsed roads and bridges that needed prompt intervention.
“We brought people with professional qualifications to assist with on the spot assessment and produce a report we would work on to ameliorate the suffering of our people,” he said.
Responding the NSE Chairman, Maiduguri Branch, Engr. Mohammed Shettima said, although, there was MOU on ground with the Commission, but in one way or the other, it was not effective for quite sometime, but now issues are to be revisited, NSE will collaborate together to address the challenges.
He explained that presently, NSE is presently addressing 32 critical aspects of water management, structural integrity, and rehabilitation, it will team of with NEDC to ensure safe and secured environment.
“By adopting a comprehensive approach, the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the commission can mitigate dam-related risks and promote sustainable water management practices.
“We will partner with the commission to prevent dangers by providing professional advice.
“We have informed the state government, and Governor Zulum has directed his team to work with us.
“After this meeting, we will do what we can to achieve this goal, which requires engagement and technical proposals with timelines for successful implementation. Rapid administration, feedback, and detailed surveys will also be crucial in this trying period, even as we wait for our Terms Of Reference (TOR)”. Shettima said.