Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has urged state residents to ensure regular clearing of drains within their vicinities to forestall floods and other ecological disasters.

Mr Eno gave advice on Saturday at the government house’s monthly prayer service in Uyo, the state capital.

The governor warned against the practice of indiscriminate refuse disposal and blockage of drainage channels.

He said the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) had projected Akwa Ibom among states that would record the highest amount of rainfall in 2025, ranging from 250 to 290 days, with an attendant risk of flooding and spread of cholera.

Mr Eno said the state government was committed to playing its part in averting the projected disaster, stressing that all hands must be on deck in doing so.

“Akwa Ibom has been mentioned as one of the states that will experience flooding this year. Therefore, we must prepare.

“Please, clean the drainage around you and organise community service for this.

“The government will embark on desilting of the drainages, but support the effort of the government to succeed,” Mr Eno said.

Mr Eno directed the Ibom Community Watch, a security outfit in the state, to map out strategies to monitor and restrain people from indiscriminate dumping of refuse to prevent regular blockage of drainage channels.

He sympathised with those who had already been affected by some natural disasters, assuring that the government would send relief materials to them.

In his homily, themed “God of Great Wonders”, Peter Omiunu of Flourishing Harvest International Church urged the congregation to trust God.

(NAN)