People living and doing businesses along the shoreline of Kabawa area of Lokoja LGA, have been asked to relocate to enable the government realize its objectives of protecting the area in the event of another flooding.
Kogi State Governor Capt Idris Wada gave the charge when he inspected the extent of on going work on the N1.5billion shoreline embankment project. The project is awarded to Chizali Nigerian Limited at the cost of N1.5billion, is to protect the shoreline of Kabawa.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi said the contractor had since last year been mobilized to site, but lamented the inability for the residents to cooperate and relocate from the area as reason for the delay.
Capt Wada said efforts will be made by government to meet with the relevant stakeholders and the contractor, to help fast track the early completion of the embankment.
Capt Wada said the benefits of the embankment is multifaceted, said aside the protection of the area against flood, the embankment he added would help beautify and ensure a good sanitary situation of the area.
The governor disclosed that the need for the project that is been funded from the Ecological funds received by the government in the last three years became necessary following the devastation caused by the 2012 flood, appealed to those making it difficult for the contractor to work to put the interest of the project objective at heart.
Earlier, in a remarks, the Commissioner for environment, Mr Stephen Aremu, said the project is been slowed by the un-cooperative attitude of the community, explained that the state government has paid compensation to those concerned, disclosed that they have however hindered the pace of work.
Also speaking, Engr Suleiman Mohammed, the Supervising Engineer for Chizali Nigerian Limited, the contracting firm handling the project, said his firm is committed to delivering the work on scheduled, assured of quality work that will stand the test of time when the people move out of the work area.
