The Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijani Aliyu has said Nigerians should be proud to celebrate the country on her 60 years independence anniversary.
Tijjani who said this while on a visit to the Trademore flood victims at the eve of the Independence Day stressed that Nigeria is a phenomenal.
“Nigeria will be 60 years tomorrow. No matter the situation we find ourselves, October 1 still remains a day to celebrate. To come of age and to clock diamond age is not an easy task. Whatever anybody will think of Nigeria, we appeal to you to put the country first. Country first will move us forward, but patience and collective responsibility will take us further. Nation building is a collective responsibility”.
As part of the activities to mark the Independence Anniversary, the flood victims received succour of 50 cooking camp gasses and assorted foods items from the FCT Administration.
Dr Ramatu Tijani Aliyu assured the residents that the administration would approach the Ecological Fund office for more assistance to the area and warned them to stay off waterways.
“She commended the residents for demonstrating maturity and sense of patriotism during the disaster, stressing that governance is a collective responsibility.
I am here to also appeal to you as much as possible before any intervention from Ecological Funds office or any relevant government agencies to stay clear of waterways. Certainly, this year’s rain not only in Trademore is very heavy with colossal damages associated with it. This also tells us to appeal to our brothers in this estate and other parts who have constructions along the water-line to move to higher ground for now.
“One, it is better to be alive. This is not time to trade blame over who construct what on the waterways. But we are appealing that if you are along the waterline, you have to move before something else happen to you.
“So I want to appeal to you that natural disaster do happen without advance notice. It is not within your power or that of government. We feel your pains and we know what it means to loss a life. I want to also thank you for your patience and understanding with the government and the situation we find ourselves in”.
The chairman of Trademore Estate Phase 3, Engr. Adewale Adenaike, commended the minister for her prompt response to the flood victims, just as he tasked the FCT Administration to address the situation urgently before it goes out of hand.
Adenaike, also stated that the ecological problem in the estate was beyond the capacity of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, hence the need for the intervention of Ecological Funds office to come to the aid of residents of the estate.
Main while, the FCT Emergency Management Agency FEMA issued a high alerts on prospect of severe flooding within FCT, especially the riverine parts of the city.
The Director-General of FEMA, Alhaji Abbas Idris in a statement said the red alert became necessary following rainfall and repeated flooding being witnessed in different parts of the country and the FCT.
Idris explained that though FCT was not on the red alert, but could be affected because of its neighbor red-line State, kogi.
