Tony Okoh || Two victims of yesterday’s heavy downpour in Ewet housing extension area of Uyo, Akwa Ibom state whose buildings were submerged by flood will get compensation for their property and vacate the area.
Already the victims mr Anselem Etuk and Mr Micheal Ukpong, retired civil servants have been given some palliatives to seek alternative accommodation pending when their compensation money will be ready for them to erect new structures elsewhere.
Governor Emmanuel who gave the directive yesterday during the project tour of the sixteen ongoing road construction in the area consoled with the victims who lost properties worthy hundreds of thousands naira along with some vital documents to the flood.
Victims of the flood
Represented by the commissioner for works, mr Ephraim inyang-eyen, who advised those affected to immediately get money for rent from the ministry and move to a safer place till they receive their compensation.
The commissioner recalled that last year, flood claimed the life of a child in the same building stressing that government is out to find lasting solution to the flood menace in the area.
According to Inyang-eyen, “At the peak of the rainy season last year, a young child was killed by flood in this same compound, we are here to find permanent solution to the flood problem here”
“You can clearly see that these houses were built far below the road level. The road level is the same length with their roofs. But, because this government is about the people, we have asked them to move out immediately and safe their lives. Government is giving them rent today to get a secured place until work on the road is completed”, Inyang-Eyen said.
Works Commissioner, Inyang eyen, addressing those affected by the flood
The Works commissioner who declared the area disaster prone warned residents to discontinue all building projects within the marked area.
He equally advised residents to always consider their safety and the safety of others when they are building,
Our correspondent observed that residents of the area woke up to be confronted by flood caused by yesterday’s heavy rain with Peoples farmlands and property worth hundreds of thousands of Naira destroyed.
Responding on behalf of the affected residents, Mr Anselem Bassey, expressed gratitude to the State government for quick intervention in coming to their rescue pledging to cooperate with Government by vacating their homes immediately.