Adamawa govt decries flood, earmarks N2.9bn to rebuild market razed by fire

By Yagana Ali Yola

The Adamawa State government has approved the total sum of N2,937, 217,120.45 kobo for the reconstruction of Yola town market that was destroyed by fire five months ago.

The new market, to house 69 modern shops, is expected to be completed within nine months.

The approval was disclosed to journalists by Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, John Dabari, shortly after a meeting of the State Executive Council (SEC) presided over by Deputy Governor Kaletapwa Farauta at the Government House in Yola.

Dabari said the remodeling of the market would involve the use of modern architectural plan and design to reduce the prevalence of fire outbreaks.

He said the government’s decision to rebuild the market was made imperative to enable resumption of full commercial activities in Yola Town.

Meanwhile, the SEC has advised people resident at flood-prone areas to relocate to safer places to avert possible flood that may result from release of water from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon.

Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Umar Garba, said the proactive measure was sequel to flood notification by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) informing the general public that the Authority of Lagdo dam in Cameroon will begin regulated water releases at the rate of 100m% (8,640,000m/day) from 17th September, 2023.

According to the agency, the water release is expected to increase gradually to 1000m% in the next 7 days depending on the inflow from the upstream Garoua River which is the main feeder into the reservoir and a major contributor to the Benue river.

Pella stated that the council considered the impact of the recent flood that ravaged communities and neighboring Borno and directed school closure to mitigate its effects on people.

He assured that the government would get hard on non compliance schools in the state, adding that safety of lives of people in the state is sacrosanct to the government.

On the update of the outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea in the state , Commissioner Ministry for Health and Human Services, Felix Tangwami said the government is on top of the situation.

He explained that 30 patients out of the 180 earlier admitted at health facilities have been discharged from the specialist hospital in the state.