By Omar Bah
The managing director of Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC), Mr. Saloum Malang has expressed his office’s commitment to implement the Jabang Real Estate drainage project. The residents of SSHFC Jabang Estate have complained about the weak drainage system in the area that has resulted in serious flooding over the past three years. Over 36 families have been adversely impacted by the last floods that affected large parts of the KM and West Coast Region. Since the incident, the Jabang Residents Committee has engaged the management of Social Security who have visited the victims on several occasions on the need to urgently address the drainage system. The SSHFC boss, Mr. Malang and members of his senior management on Thursday visited the victims and donated food items worth over D200, 000, following a previous D110,000 to support the current excavation of the blocked waterway as part of the Corporation’s immediate response to the floods. In an attempt to address the floods, in collaboration with the NDMA, NRA and NEA, the corporation had earlier funded a survey costing D225,000, on the Estate and following the results, D57 million was ear-marked for the implementation of the drainage project. The visit on Thursday avail both parties the opportunity to discuss frankly on the way forward. Addressing the community at the Estate’s football grounds, Managing Director, Mr. Saloum Malang said his office has started engaging the relevant authorities on the urgency of implementing the planned drainage project. MD Malang said Social Security had wanted to implement the project little earlier, but the sum involved is such that they needed time to mobilise funds. “I want to assure you that Social Security is doing everything humanly possible to address this situation. I want to reassure you that we are in this together,” he said. He appealed to the residents to be patient with his office. “I want all of you to see Social Security as your own Corporation. We are concern about what has happened and we are doing everything possible to address it as soon as possible in collaboration with key stakeholders,” MD Malang added. He said there are immediate plans in the pipeline as contingency measures to support those who are severely affected. Commenting on the donation, MD Malang said it was conceived to support the families who have lost all their belongings during the floods. The chairman of the Jabang Real Estate Association, Falou Sowe thanked the delegation for their visit and asked the top Social Security management as a matter of urgency to support those who are mostly affected by the floods. Mr. Sowe also urged the SSHFC management to do everything possible to address the drainage issues. “I want to urge you to mobilise resources to avert the flooding,” he urged. Fatou Ndow, a widow who was hardest hit, said the flood has devastated her home and her whole family has been forced to relocate. She appealed to Social Security officials to resolve the situation and assist all those who have evacuated their houses. All the other speakers at the meeting sought support from SSHFC to solve the flooding. Further reassuring the corporation’s commitment to address the situation, MD Malang assured that his office will work closely with the Jabang Residents Committee and relevant stakeholders to provide lasting solution to the community. The Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Fabuka Njaay thanked the Jabang Committee for their amicable collaboration with the Corporation and assured them of the Corporation’s resolve to strengthen this partnership.
