For hundreds of Port Harcourt residents and its suburb in Rivers State especially those that live in flood prone areas, this year’s raining season should be over soon. Their prayer is understandable as hundreds of homes, worship places and business areas were submerged and many displaced within a short time.
Residents of Rumuolumeni in Obio Akpor, Trans Amadi, Rukpokwu, Eneka, Choba, Oyigbo, Eleme and the Orashi part of the state are still counting their losses as properties worth millions of naira were lost to devastating flood. Several other parts of the state were badly affected by the rampaging flood. The state office of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) was submerged by flood with some vehicles parked within the premises submerged. The whole of D/Line area was also flooded after heavy rain overflew a canal close to it.
Daily Trust observed that the drainage behind the FRSC office is too narrow for water to flow through and empty into Ntanwogba canal close to the popular CFC flyover. The flood affected residents and offices.
Rivers State government had on several occasions through its Waste Management Agency dredged the canal thereby removing the entire blockage to free flow of water. But residents did not help matters as they continued dump refuse on the canal.
The Sole Administrator of the State Waste Management Agency, Felix Obuah recently warned residents to desist from dumping refuse and defecating on the canal or face the wrath of the law.
A resident of Oyigbo that was cut off, Peter Okeke, blamed political leaders for the broken down of infrastructure in the area. Okeke said several road contracts awarded to indigenes of the area were poorly executed thereby creating avenue for flooding.
“The poor execution of the roads have formed waterlog all over the community thereby causing perennial flooding. NDDC which was supposed to execute sustainable roads project that will stand the test of time are not also helping matters,” he said.
According to him, the recent road contract awarded by NDDC at Isaiah Eleto Street collapsed three months after. “There was no proper water channel and that was the reason why there is flooding after little rain,” he stated.
In Eleme the story is the same as residents suffered perennial flooding. Major streets in the community such as Aleto, Alesa and Akpajo have been submerged just as many residents have vacated their residences.
A major bridge linking the community to the East-West road recently collapsed and caused traffic gridlock. Companies located on the stretch of the road find it difficult to access their offices as they go through neighbouring communities to get to their offices.
The youths of the community recently issued an ultimatum to both state and federal governments to take remedial measures to control perennial flooding and fix broken down roads or risk shutting down all the federal government parastatals located on the stretch to Eleme.
The Rivers State Government recently awarded contract for the reconstruction of two roads in Oyigbo community. One of the roads at the popular Mbano camp part of the area has attained 90 per cent completion while the second from Oyigbo Express junction to Afam road is yet to commence. Residents are of the opinion that on completion of the two road projects temporary relief will come their way. The community is rich in oil and gas as it has more than 68 flow stations. The gigantic Adam power station is located in the area.
Besides, residents of Rumukwurushi woke up last weekend to a devastating torrential rain that pulled down the only bridge linking the community. The incident occurred when a canal that channel overflew. It submerged the bridge which led to its collapse.
Telecommunication dealers at the popular Computer Village along Port Harcourt-Aba road are also counting their losses as the overflow Rumukwurushi canal damaged many of their stores. A telephone handsets dealer, Tochi Nmadu told our reporter that he lost many goods noting that an estimated N30million was lost in the flood.
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, after inspecting some of the flooded areas recently assured residents of the flooded communities that his administration will tackle the menace.
Governor Wike directed the relevant agencies to take immediate remedial measures to tackle perennial flooding in some parts of the state and ordered for the continuous desilting of all major canals in the town.
Similarly, the state deputy governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry, has assured the people of Eneka community that government would proffer a permanent solution to the incessant flooding of the community and its environs.
The deputy governor, who promised an immediate support for all displaced persons, said there was no reason why people should be displaced from their homes, stressing that government was committed to providing a permanent solution to the problem.
The Paramount Ruler of Eneka, Eze Roland Woko, said with the visit of the state deputy governor, the tears of his people has been wiped out.
He said some youths wanted to go on rampage because of the flood situation but were assured that the State government was on top of the situation and thanked the deputy governor for her prompt response.
The South-South Zonal office of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) early this year warned residents who are living in the flood prone areas to vacate before the commencement of this year’s rain but many refused.
