By Yusuf Maina
Inhabitants of Keana town in Keana local government area of Nasarawa state have called for urgent government intervention to reconstruct the bridge on the entrance of the town which has been damaged by flash flood last week .
The bridge which links Keana town with Giza community and Lafia through Obi local government area was destroyed after a heavy downpour on Friday last week resulting to the destruction of many farm lands and other bridges within and around Keana town.
Among the worst hit places are the Alasamu bridge which is along the Obi – Keana road on the main entrance to Keana town, the Okpa Obene bridge close to the site for the newly established Federal College of Education Technical and the Okpalaga bridge on the Agbo /Omeri road .
Other affected areas include the popular historic Salt village, Electric poles and Farmlands with crops such as Rice,maize,yams and Banana plantations..
The paramount traditional ruler of the chiefdom the Osana of Keana Alhaji Abdullahi Amegwa Agbo made the plea when he received the state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources Princess Margaret Elayo alongside the state Project Coordinator of NEWMAP EIB Doctor Mohammad Ismail on assessment tour of the havoc caused by the flood in the community.
The Royal father expressed concern with the level of destruction especially on many farmlands including his which the community have never experienced before..
“Am appealing to the Federal and state governments to as a matter of urgency come to the aid of farmers affected by this disaster”..the monarch appeal.
Chairman of Keana Local Government area ,Adamu Aboki wants urgent intervention from government and relevant authorities at the national level to prevent the total collapse of the washed bridge.
“As it is now, you can see that the tarred potion of the bridge has been washed away and the local government cannot do much but we have blocked that part and allow motorists to pass through the flanks”.the local government chairman noted.
The State Project Coordinator of Nigeria Climate Adaptation Erosion and Watershed management Project- European Investment Bank NEWMAP EIB assisted,Doctor Mohammad Ismail gave an assurance that NEWMAP would partner relevant agencies with a view to providing lasting solution to erosion challenges in the area.
Doctor Mohammad Ismail who frowned at the nonchalant attitude of residents on environmental related matters, announced that he would formally write to the headquarters of NEWMAP in Abuja on the environmental degradation that occurred in Keana for possible action.
“If you look at what has happened here you would see that it is a case of human activities…about 70 percent of this type of cases is caused by failure to adhere to environmental safety and sustainability. ” Doctor Ismail stressed.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources Princess Margaret Elayo attributed the flood disaster to deforestation and onset of climate Change.
She assured the people that the state government would as soon as possible provide relief materials and other necessary interventions to cushion the effect of the damages recorded..
So far ,no reported case of any loss of life as residents of Keana eagerly await intervention of the government as they expressed fear of impending reoccurrence following prediction by Nimet of more rainfall in coming days..
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