Enugu: Grappling with self-inflicted flood

141 Illegal Structures Blocking Water Channels In Enugu

Environmental degradation is gradually becoming a headache for residents, as well as the Enugu State government. Until the recent past, Enugu was not known for flooding. In fact, its inhabitants would readily attest to the fact that no matter the volume of rainfall, the city would hardly be flooded, to the extent that human and vehicular movements would suddenly become difficult.

But recent rainfalls are gradually revealing the level of environmental degradation that the state has suffered. Expectedly, the picture is very unpleasant, as floodwater now ravages roads, homes, business offices and sundry public places in the state.

Interestingly, investigations point to the fact that the distortion of the city’s master plan, owing to human activities was to blame for the menace. Sources claim that the distortion was a gradual process that even dates back to the return to democratic rule in 1999, when governments started recovering and allocating plots of land to different people, based on political and personal interests.

Even though little or no incidents resulted from each allocation, the cumulative effect of the large-scale distortion of the city’s master plan over time, now poses a threat to the safety of lives and property in the state, especially during heavy rainfall.As matters now stand, even the state government has become uncomfortable with the situation, especially since the multi-million naira Ebeano Tunnel Crossing, started getting waterlogged and under immense attack from floodwater.

The flood situation around the tunnel does not only distort movement of residents, it has also sacked some occupants of the newly built Fidelity Estate; the Ebeano Tunnel Police Station, and other occupants of structures around it.Built during the Chimaroke Nnamani-led administration, a deep gully has been created by the floodwater at the foot of the tunnel. The tunnel, which is a dual carriage way built under rail tracks has been inspected by officials of the Ministry of Works, and that of Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority (ESCDTA), after which they issued a warning to residents, asking them to avoid the road, especially during heavy downpours because of the danger it posed.
 
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Works, Patrick Ikpeama, blamed the flood situation in Enugu on recent construction works taking place around the tunnel, which he said were blocking the flow of water into the Asata River. He added that the new construction works have also succeeded in blocking waterways, and water now finds its way through the tunnel.One of such new projects is the Fidelity Housing Estate, being developed by individuals under the cover of the Enugu State Housing Corporation. The area was allegedly parceled and sold during the Sullivan Chime administration.

The estate has now become a killjoy to its occupants following the emergence of multiple pools of stagnant water each time there was a downpour. This ugly development has already forced some residents of the estate to relocate.Apart from the ravaged tunnel, Spring of Life International Secondary School, a private school along Bisalla Road has continued to have its premises flooded.

A couple of months ago, authorities of the school, in a bid to avoid human casualty, sent the students home for one week, within which period it tried to find a solution to the challenge posed by flooding.By the time the floodwater abated, it was discovered that parts of the premises, especially areas closest to Asata River were sinking. This led to soil excavation around the premises.

On May 20, 2015, the school came under threat when former governor, Sullivan Chime mobilised bulldozers to demolish buildings there, claiming that they prevented proper flow of rain water into the Asata River.A human shield mounted around the school premises by hundreds of students, their teachers and other sympathisers prevented the bulldozers from demolishing the structures. The government ignored an existing court injunction, when it attempted to effect the demolition.

This failed demolition attempt, was after the state government overran the regional headquarters of the Mountain of Fire Miracles Church, claiming that it was a threat to the Zik Avenue Road Bridge, and the free flow of Asata River.A recent survey conducted by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), showed that over 141 illegal structures, including churches, schools, hotels, residential houses among others are blocking water channels in the state.

According to the ECTDA Commissioner, Mr. Chidi Aroh, these structures were either built without “approval or specification,” and they would continue to impair free flow of water if something urgent was not done to remedy the situation.He lamented that the desire of state government to ensure that the state becomes the cleanest city in the country was negated by the rampant erection of structures, without recourse to certifications and approvals. This, he stressed, continued to mar the environmental aesthetics of the state.

While the commissioner was tight-lipped on when a demolition exercise may get underway, member representing Igbo-etiti in the Enugu State House of Assembly, James Akadu, took the matter to the Assembly, seeking the lawmakers’ approval for the immediate demolition of all structures blocking water ways and channels, especially the ones already identified and marked.

He warned that if nothing was done now that it is still early days, the flood situation could deteriorate to the point that a greater part of the city would be submerged under floodwater in a year or two.Akadu who is Chairman, House Committee on Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, said the committee’s oversight tour, with the commissioner revealed how people built on water channels thereby blocking gutters and drainages with such structures.

He urged the Assembly to take action “because the law is no respecter of persons,” pointing out that both the person that built an illegal structure, and the person that approved same should be made to feel the full weight of the law. Although the Assembly has pledged to “consult widely” before announcing its decision on the proposed demolition, what is not certain is how, and when the demolition would be carried out, given the claims by some of the property owners that they acquired the plots from previous governments.

In giving his perspectives, former Surveyor General of the state, Chief Leonard Eneje, said on Thursday, that the abuse of building approval plans by developers was responsible for flooding in the state, especially, in Enugu metropolis.Eneje while testifying before the special committee investigating structures built along waterways in the metropolis, at the state Assembly, said that negligence on the part of town planning authorities, also contributed to the flooding.On irregularities noticed in the approvals he gave whilst in office, particularly at the Paradise City Layout, he stated that he gave merely the sketch, stamp, and seal of office to conform to the requirement of the property department of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), where the layout belonged.

The committee, however, observed that it was wrong, and against surveying practice for him to give seal of office and register a mere sketched plan, as a building instrument in the state.

One of those affected by the flooding in the state is Eze Ugonna, who acquired one of the submerged buildings at the Fidelity Estate. He said the transaction he carried out was legal and done through the state housing development agency. According to him, all the processes including building design and payment of relevant fees were duly executed, with government officials monitoring the progress of work all through.

“I have all the documents from the first lodgment I made to the bank till this stage of work. But I cannot access the building because the entrance is flooded. You can see that work has been completed here and I have built to specification, and not crossed the boundary of my allocation like most people did,” Ugonna said.

Proprietor of Spring of Life International School, Adibe Njoku, an architect, is another person, who has refused to be blamed for the emerging flood situation. He said the school, which he built in 2005, which has the capacity to take over 1, 000 students did not exceed the beacons mounted by the state government, insisting that the recent flooding that led to a section of the fence giving way was as a result of soil water.

“We were at the Ministry of Lands at their invitation over the construction of the school. We took documents and diagrams of the award there. They saw these and raised a team, which conducted investigation into it, and later wrote to us to continue with what we were doing.