The best solution to prevent the recurring flood menace in Imo State is to dredge Niger and Orashi Rivers as a long term answer. However, victims of the menace are desperately seeking a temporary solution that can cushion the effect of the flood hazard that has destroyed their assets and rendered many of them homeless. CHRIS NJOKU reports
Nana Goodluck Opia, Minister (state) of Education is worried. Opia’s headache is how to proffer a lasting solution to flood menace in Imo State where he hails from. His house at Abacheke, Egbema in Imo State, was submerged by flood, which destroyed several property assets worth millions of naira and displaced thousands of his people from their homes.
The latest devastating flood also swept away many residents; while thousands of others have been rendered homeless with their houses completely submerged. The incident followed the heavy rains experienced in the past days. The Oguta Blue Lake overflew its bank and the flood destroyed both farmlands and personal belongings the people had suffered to earn. Many private investments, including hotels, were submerged. As at the time The Nation visited the area, people were still counting their losses.
Many residents at Amaraocha in Oguta LGA have already abandoned their homes to seek shelter in saver places; while some people were seen trying to salvage what remained of their personal properties. When the disaster first happened 10 years ago, precisely in 2012, many residents were caught unawares. Some of the fleeing residents told our correspondent that many of them could not save their assets as some of them were taken unawares by the ravaging flood.
Since then, it has been a recurrent tale of woes, as flood keeps wreaking havoc in the communuties. According to one of the affected people, Eugene Nworlu: “I and my children were sleeping when suddenly all our mattresses were soaked by the flood. When I woke up, I saw our beds and other properties floating on the water.” He called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), state government and the Federal Government to come to the assistance of the people.
The Head of Imo/Abia Operations Office of NEMA, Ifeanyi Nnaji, said that the agency had visited about 18 communities affected by the flood. However, he said the agency had earlier carried out community awareness campaigns of impending flooding that may arise from sudden overflowing of the lake. “Suddenly, the flood is already on the ground and I was there to assess the extent of damage and my advice to the communities is for them to vacate the areas. Several farmlands were submerged, but those that still have their crops can salvage whatever they can salvage so that they will not lose everything. Apart from that, we have already made report to the Federal Government. Again, we are visiting there to know the level of devastation so that we will be able to give an update for possible government intervention. Thousands of hectares of farmlands have been swallowed by the flood, leaving the farmers in a state of hopelessness and poverty. At last count, over 18 communities have been sacked, schools, roads and bridges washed away.”
Nnaji said to find everlasting solution to this flood disaster, “government of Imo State should dredge tributaries of Rivers Niger like Orashi river and at the same time, improve the economy of such location so that the inhabitants of the area will have access to transport their farm produce and other local products through modernised waterway transport.”
An environmental expert, who preferred not to be named, wants the Federal Government to build a
The lawmaker representing Oguta state constituency in Imo, Frank Ugboma, has cried to the Federal Government to urgently send relief materials and other medical facilities to victims of recent flood disaster in Oguta Local Government Area. Ugboma made the call on Thursday, when he led a delegation from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to visit the flood-ravaged communities for assessment of damage caused by the flood. The lawmaker visited Osuobodo autonomous community, Eziosu, Kalagbari Beech and Oguta-Anaechi community amongst others.
Ugboma, who decried the level of hardship in the affected areas, disclosed that the current situation was worse than the 2012 flood incident in the area.
He said millions of property assets worth millions of naira were destroyed; while farmlands in the area were also submerged. Ugboma said only swift intervention from the Federal Government could minimise the sufferings of the victims. While sympathising with the victims, Ugboma also donated cash to some of the victims for immediate medical attention. “I came to identify with my constituents affected by the recent flood; I have gone round the affected areas and would make a case for my people at the state level. I call on the Federal Government to immediately come to our rescue. My people have all fled their homes and seeking settlement in uptown; their hardship is too much,” he said.
Traditional ruler of Oguta-Anaechi autonomous community, Chinedu Nzeribe decried the development and called government at all level for help and permanent solution to the problem. Another monarch, Eze GOH Ariaga of Egbema, said he was lucky the flood did not affect his palace but affected other landed property and investments. “We are really battling with flood in my area. Though water did not enter where I am using as temporary palace, it affected all other landed properties from farmlands to other investments. We are also battling with the threat from dangerous reptiles that have been displaced from their natural habitats. I even personally killed a snake yesterday with the help of my guest. Many politicians and government agencies have been visiting to empathise with us.”
Investigation showed that over 3,000 people still do not have where to go as they could not salvage any property from their submerged homes. They have temporary relocated at an open field at Ogene Civic Centre, Oguta. However, reprieve came their way at the weekend as Governor Hope Uzodimma handed over to them different items that will help to cushion the effect of the natural disaster. Hundreds of the internally displaced persons in Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas of the state received relief materials, including food items from the state government to help cushion the hardship that had arisen from the natural disaster.
The relief materials were: 400 bags of 50kg rice, mattresses, pillows, blankets, cartons of indomie noodles, water packs, jerry cans, among others, as well as hot meal of rice, which was served the victims at the camp where they were temporarily housed. The government also promised to provide the victims with at least one hot meal every day for the next two weeks.
Addressing the victims at the various camps at Abacheke in Egbema and Oguta Girls Primary School respectfully, Governor Uzodimma regretted that the unfortunate situation, caused by a natural disaster, occurred at a time of serious economic recession. Uzodimma, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku, sympathised with the victims and assured them that government will stand by them throughout the challenging period. He said everything possible would be done to alleviate their suffering, including seeking assistance from National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Governor Uzodimma charged the leadership of Egbema and Oguta LGAs to ensure that the relief items are distributed to those they were meant for, and warned that they will be held accountable for any lapses. He further reassured the people that the Federal Government’s approval for the dredging of the Oguta lake and Orashi river would go a long way in mitigating the effects of disasters caused by flood in addition to bringing economic boost to the area.
Addressing his kit and kin at Abacheke, the Minister (state) of Education, Goodluck Nana Opiah, thanked the Governor and government of Imo State for coming to the rescue of his people when it mattered most. He, however, requested the Governor to appeal to the oil companies operating in the areas to see reason to come and assist the people at a time like this, “a time of need.”
In his speech, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Imo State Oil Producing Development Commission (ISOPADEC), Chief Charles Orie, said that “it is as a result of the Governor’s passion for the people of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta that he approved that the various materials and food items be sent to them without delay.” Orie enumerated the items, promising that the “palliatives and other assistance will continue to be provided until your lives must have improved substantially.”
Some of the leaders who spoke at the occasion such as the APC House of Representatives candidate for the area, Chief Eugene Dibiagwu and the sole administrators of the two LGAs – O. Amadioha and Ofili Ijoma, lamented the devastation brought about by the flood to farmlands, property and homes of the people and appreciated the government for bringing succour to the victims. They, however, appealed for more assistance and relief items for other communities – Opuma in Egbema, Ezi-Orsu, Osemoto, Egbuoma – all in Oguta, among others, in the two LGAs.
Some of the internally displaced persons who decried the devastation to their farmlands and loss of crops noted that the latest incident was the worst they have experienced in recent times, since the 2012 and 2016 flood disasters. It was on that note that one of them, Mrs Okwudili Okechukwu, expressed her heartfelt appreciation to government for timely intervention with the relief items.
Also, Mr. Ochije Uzoma Bernard, while thanking God that they survived the flood, lauded Governor Uzodimma for coming to their assistance. The Deputy Governor was accompanied by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie, the Commissioner for Environment, Prof Emma Duru, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Barr Emeka Agbo, other members of the State Expanded Exco, among other government functionaries and appointees.