Flood: Jalingo Market Drainage Gets Major Cleanup After 24 Years

The drainage systems at Jalingo Market in Jalingo are currently being cleared through a joint effort by the Taraba State Internal Revenue Service (TSIRS) and i4cus Nigeria Limited, in what officials have described as a major milestone for traders and residents in the area.

Speaking during the exercise, the Chairman of the Taraba State Internal Revenue Service, Brigadier General Jeremiah Aliyu Faransa (Rtd.), described the development as historic for both traders and residents living around the market vicinity.

He noted that for over 24 years, the drainage systems around the market had not received adequate attention, resulting in persistent environmental and flooding challenges, especially during the rainy season.

Faransa urged market users and residents to be law-abiding by refraining from indiscriminate dumping of refuse on roads and in gutters, stressing that proper waste disposal would ensure free flow of water and help prevent flooding.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of i4cus Nigeria Limited, Joy Abama, expressed appreciation to the Taraba State Government, through the office of the Taraba State Internal Revenue Board, for facilitating the cleanup exercise. She described the project as a significant achievement and a clear demonstration of the government's commitment to the welfare of its people. Abama further encouraged residents and traders to consistently pay their taxes to enable the government to execute more developmental projects.

The Chairman of the Taraba State Environmental Sanitation Agency, Illiya Kefas, thanked the state governor for his support and concern for market women and the general environment, noting that the intervention would greatly improve sanitary conditions in the market.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Traders Association, Alhaji Gamandi Adamu, expressed gratitude to the state government for the initiative carried out through the revenue board in collaboration with i4cus Nigeria Limited. He assured the government of the traders' total cooperation in maintaining cleanliness and supporting future initiatives.

The Special Adviser on Technical Workforce Strategic Development and Productivity, Musa Danjuma Goyo, also commended the collective efforts of the agencies involved. He said the government had listened to the concerns of traders and residents and assured them that under the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas, more developmental projects would gradually be implemented to make the market more conducive for business activities.

The drainage clearing exercise is expected to significantly improve sanitation, enhance water flow, and reduce the risk of flooding in Jalingo Market and surrounding communities.