The Rivers State Government has assured residents affected by recent flooding in parts of Port Harcourt of immediate intervention, including the distribution of relief materials and urgent measures to address the causes of the disaster.
Speaking during an inspection visit to flood-ravaged areas, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Professor Ngozi Odu, said Governor Siminalayi Fubara had directed the State Flood Management and Control Committee to assess the situation and recommend lasting solutions.
According to her, the committee, made up of senior government officials, was acting on the Governor’s directive to ensure that affected communities receive prompt assistance.
“His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, directed the Flood Management and Control Committee to visit the affected areas and assess the situation firsthand,” she said.
The Deputy Governor noted that the committee comprised top government functionaries, including the Head of Service, the Secretary to the State Government, Permanent Secretaries from key ministries, and health officials.
She disclosed that the team had earlier visited Lord Emmanuel Close, where they discovered attempts by some individuals to reclaim portions of an existing canal.
“We found that some people are trying to reclaim part of the canal. They have already marked it out and are pushing a road towards the canal. If that is allowed to continue, the consequences will be devastating,” Odu warned.
At Jerusalem Estate, another affected location, residents informed the committee that floodwaters were being redirected through an improperly channeled drainage system, causing widespread inundation whenever it rained.
“The people told us that the water was wrongly re-channeled. Instead of flowing into the larger canal, it is being diverted into this area, flooding the entire community,” she explained.
Professor Odu said preliminary reports indicated that the impact of the flooding had been severe.
“According to Mr. Okoro, over a thousand buildings have been submerged within the estate,” she stated.
She added that the government would immediately brief Governor Fubara on the findings and engage the Ministry of Works, estate residents, and community leaders to implement corrective measures.
“We will report back to His Excellency so that the Ministry of Works can meet with the people in the estate and the host community and swing into action,” she said.
The Deputy Governor also announced immediate palliative support for affected residents.
“The immediate thing we are going to do is provide palliatives to both the people in the estate and members of the surrounding community,” she said.
She further disclosed that the committee would meet with the traditional ruler of the area and compile the names of affected families for additional government assistance.
“We will still come back for further directives from the Governor to ensure that we cushion the effects of the flooding taking place here,” Odu assured.
Reacting to the government’s intervention, a resident of Jerusalem Estate, Engr. Obinna Okoro, commended Governor Fubara for what he described as a swift response to the crisis.
“We want to appreciate the Governor and thank him. This is the first time we are witnessing a flood of this magnitude in this area,” Okoro said.
The engineer attributed the flooding to ongoing construction activities in the area, particularly the De-Las-Vegas project.
“This situation was purely caused by the De-Las-Vegas construction work, and we thank the Governor for his immediate action. His response was very, very fast,” he said.
Expressing optimism that the concerns raised by residents would be addressed, Okoro added:
“We believe the Governor will walk the talk as discussed. We sincerely appreciate his intervention and wish him well.”
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