A ten-day rainfall has left many parts of Rivers State severely flooded.Goods and property worth millions of naira have been destroyed and residents dislodged from their homes.
Correspondent Blessing Ituma who visited some affected areas reports the presence of reptiles such as leaches, crocodiles and snakes living in the flood as residents continue to call for prompt action by the government.
The 14 days warning of heavy rainfall by the National Flood Warning System Centre across 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory with a high risk of flooding , is at its peak in Rivers State.From PortHarcourt City to Obio Akpor, Oyigbo and other parts of the state, residents are lamenting the loss of goods, farmlands and property to flood waters.
For instance, the homes of Mrs. Tolu Lawal in Azubuike street and a pregnant woman, Mrs Blessing Nneji in Akani street all in Rumukwachi in ObioAkpo local govt area have been overtaken by flood.
Mr. Simeon Eze in Gojetha area narrates how he walks through the floodwaters every day to work and how crocodiles were seen in one of the days.Shop owners along the Obi Wali /Rumuigbo and Nkpolu Junction are lamenting the loss of goods to flood.
Oyigbo residents around rumuekulubu and Umundino have lost farmlands, moulded blocks, buildings as explained by Chief Chibuzo Oforji who is calling for intervention.
The city of PortHarcourt is not left out as residents around Mile 1, Mile 2 and Mile 3 areas of Ikwerre road decry the state of flooding, worsened by open manholes where, sometimes ,people and cars fall into themIn an attempt to address the situation, the Chairman, Committee on Works, in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mrs. Emilia Amadi with her team embarked on inspection tour of the flood-ravaged Ogbogoro, Rumukwachii road, and promised to liase with the Commissioner for Works to see that the road is fixed.
A visit to Rumukwachi shows that work targeted on channeling the flood to a basin may commence soon as confirmed by a resident, Mr. innocent Ugwe.
However, the Councillor, Waste Management Society of Nigeria Rivers State, Dr Williams Iyama and Environment Expert, Professor Hyginus Oku, advise the state government to take action by constructing improved drainage tunnels, dissilting, retention basins, demolition of houses on waterways with compensations and more sensitization on waste disposal as well as the establishment of state emergency management agency.
Residents of Rivers State are appealing and hopeful that all flood affected areas would receive the necessary attention from government at all levels and those who have lost goods and property would be adequately compensated.
