Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in Bayelsa State, Surveyor Moses Teibowei, has charged indigenous engineers, surveyors and environmental scientists to take a deep study of the causes of flooding in the state and proffer engineering solution to the problem.

Surv. Teibowei, who on Thursday led a team of engineers and other relevant professionals to flooded parts, blocked canals and drainages in Yenagoa, said they now have the task of providing home grown solution to the perennial flooding.

“As a professional too, I just came up with the idea for us to look inwards to solve our problem, hence the reason we assembled all of you as indigenous professionals. We need to find the causes, recommend appropriate measures to take, come up with workable designs and we will then go into construction to mitigate the effect of flooding.

“Some of the causes of flooding as we have seen in places visited were self-inflicted and they range from dumping of refuse in canals and drainages, erecting buildings on canals and natural drains, thereby hindering the free flow of water,” Teibowei stated.

He said the engineering study of the flooding was in line with the drive of Governor Douye Diri to find lasting solution to issue of perennial flooding in the state and assured the people of the state that the present administration would implement the various recommendations to tackle the flood problem.

Places visited by the team include Onopa bridge, Amarata bridge, Opolo along Alamieyeseigha road, Okutukutu along Isaac Boro Expressway and the new Commissioner’s quarters road.

The team of engineers, surveyors and environmental scientists have been divided into seven groups to undertake the extensive study that will cover every community in the Yenagoa metropolis up to Igbogene.

Among senior officers of the ministry who accompanied the commissioner on the inspection tour included the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Johnson Dagana, and Director of Civil, Engr. Freddy Bonny.

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