The Aria and Zadawa communities in Zaki and Misau Local Government Areas of Bauchi State have lauded the federal government over the execution of ecological projects to mitigate flood disasters.

The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has embarked on construction of drains and repair work on roads damaged by flood in the affected areas.

Some members of the communities, who spoke on Saturday during an inspection visit by officials of the agency, said the projects would address flood and alleviate their sufferings.

The ward head, Aria community, Sama’ila Bako, said the 2022 flood destroyed the access road linking the community with other parts of the state which exposed them to difficulties.

“Many villagers lost food items and other valuables to the flood last rainy season.

“We commend FERMA for the drain construction project to control flood and ease flow of water,” he said.

In their separate contributions, Shehu Mu’azu and Mohammed Sakuwa, said the devastating flood cut off the road making transportation and movement of produce to the market difficult.

“Many people from Maigatari in Jigawa, parts of Yobe and Niger Republic used the road to access markets in the area.

“The devastation caused by the flood prevented us from going to the markets in neighbouring communities,” Mr Mu’azu said.

Also speaking, Tukur Abubakar Zadawa, said the road was not motorable during rainfall due to its poor state caused by the flood, adding that the trend made students, farmers, traders and herders stranded.

Nanpan Joroh, the federal road maintenance engineer, FERMA, said the federal government had approved repair work on two out of the five roads damaged by the flood in Gamawa LGA..

He said the agency would construct about two culverts while awaiting approval for the remaining three locations.

The project, he said, would ease flow of water, protect lives and the road from further damage, adding that repair work on the 8km Zadawa road had reached 50 per cent completion stage.

(NAN)