NIGERIA (Akwa Ibom)- As part of efforts to tackle flood in Akwa Ibom State, the Commissioner for Environment, Enobong Uwah, has revealed that the state would need N50 billion to solve the problem.

While speaking to journalists in Uyo yesterday, Mr. Uwah said that the state government had requested for assistance from the Federal Government regarding the matter.

“We are already making moves to access the ecological fund. Meanwhile, the state government has started intervening, especially as it concerns damage caused by last year’s flooding in the state.

”If you go to Brooks Street, you will appreciate the work the state government is doing to check gully erosion threatening to eat up the area,” he said.

Mr. Uwah added that the flouting of environmental laws by the people of the state, who built houses on waterways, has increased the level of damages caused by flood in the South-South state.

The Commissioner also urged the people of the state to desist from dumping refuse in culverts aimed to ease the flow of water.