Fune Local Government Area of Yobe State has appealed to Minister of Environment, Hajiya Amina Mohammed, to assist in controlling the erosion devastating the area.
The Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the Local Government, Umar Sanda Shanga, made the plea in Damagum town, recently.
He said: “Erosion here is a very serious issue affecting the environment. Water erosion is creating havoc in the area.
“We call on the Federal Government via the Minister of Environment, Hajiya Amina Mohammed, to consider the plight of our community which is facing the erosion menace. The menace is threating our houses, farmlands and rural roads”.
He disclosed that the state government under Governor Ibrahim Gaidam-led administration was making efforts in finding a lasting solution to it, stressing that the work is so enormous for the state government alone to tackle and therefor called for Federal Government’s assistance.
Shanga further said that the most seriously affected areas include: Ngelzarma and Damagum townships “even though last year Yobe State Government expended millions of naira on the construction of water ways in Ngelzarma town”.
“When I assumed office as the Chairman of Fune LGA, I went round the most affected areas and wrote a memo to the Federal Ministry of Environment to come to our aid. If you look at Daura area you discover the encroachment by the road side. We tried to stop it but it is capital intensive. ”
On development, the council boss enumerated some of his achievements in office. “When I assumed office newly I discovered that some primary school pupils dropped out from school due to difficulty in writing the common entrance examinations, NECO. We purchased forms and distributed free of charge for the federal government colleges examinations. Our students succeeded in the NNPC / Shell test and were given scholarship up to their degree level. All the beneficiaries of the exercise were indigenes of Fune LGA.
“We have embarked on routine inspection of all the schools in our LG to boost the morale of the teachers as well ensure productivity. ”
He commended Governor Gaidam for the complete renovation of the primary and junior secondary schools across the state.
Healthcare system, according to him, was improved via the provision of equipment, drugs and personnel.
