Rivers residents raise alarm as flood submerge homes

For thousands of residents of Port Harcourt City, ObioAkpor, Oyigbo and old Ahoada Province, the rain is gradually becoming a nightmare. Some of the communities in the local government areas are prone to perennial flood and residents are expressing great concern over what they are likely to face as the rain sets in. In 2017, […]

For thousands of residents of Port Harcourt City, ObioAkpor, Oyigbo and old Ahoada Province, the rain is gradually becoming a nightmare. Some of the communities in the local government areas are prone to perennial flood and residents are expressing great concern over what they are likely to face as the rain sets in.

In 2017, communities and major streets of Port Harcourt, ObioAkpor, Oyigbo and Ahoada were submerged by flood while thousands of residents were displaced from their homes.

Residents of Nkpolu-Rumuigbo community, Obiwali road and Rumuekini all in ObioAkpor Local Government Area and those of Diobu, parts of D Line, Rumukalagbo, old GRA especially Odi street and Delta Hotel of Forces Avenue as well as Bank Road, in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area have cried out to the state government over the flooding of their homes and business premises.

The residents are calling for quick and sustainable measures to be put in place to tackle flood in the state.

Some of the residents who spoke to our correspondent attributed the flood to poor drainage system, saying if the drainage system was opened and new ones constructed the issue of flooding will be a thing of the past.

A resident of Diobu, Grace Akpan, said they have been subjected to untold hardships as a result of frequent flooding in the area.

She said: “The worst hit was last week Saturday’s rain. Our homes were flooded and we struggled to salvage our properties from the raging flooding. In a situation like this we have to device means to survive the rampaging flood.  We use wheel barrow to pass through the flooded areas.”

Another resident, Peter Abba said: “This area is prone to perennial flooding. Just a little downpour and you will see everywhere flooded. When a situation like this occurs residents find it very difficult to access their homes. I carry people at my back to help them wade through the flooded areas anytime it rains. We have tried on our own to get out of the situation but we need the help of the state government to overcome this challenge.”

They however, called on the state government to engage professionals to find lasting solution to the perennial flooding in their business and residential areas.

A resident of Rumukalagbo area of Port Harcourt, Charles Odum, appealed to the government to widen the existing drainage and construct new ones to channel water out of residential and business areas.

“The present administration is trying very hard based on various infrastructural development projects carried out in all the local government areas of the state but we want the governor to look into the issue of flooding in the state,” he said.

However, a petty trader at Mile One market in Port Harcourt, Beatrice Woko, has said that the residents are to blame for the reoccurring flooding of some parts of Diobu as they were in the habit of dumping refuse in drainage.

At Nkpolu-Rumuigbo, the situation of the residents is said to be pathetic with a recent rainfall that flooded their homes and business areas.

Head Chief of Nkpolu-Rumuigbo, EzeAmaehulaChindah, in an interview with a radio station in Port Harcourt called for urgent attention to the flood prone area.

He said the flooding of Nkpolu junction of the East West road was a huge problem facing the people of the community and beyond.

He said: “Since the construction of the new road from the boundary of Rumuigbo to Rumuahiolu the whole water is channeled towards the junction and it does not flow very well. The other part of the road has been occupied by some inhabitants and this does not give room for the passage of natural water.”

He therefore appealed to the Rivers State government and the authorities of ObioAkpor Local Government Council to help open drainages in Nkpolu junction to save the area from further flooding.

For the residents living close to the bank of canal at Rumuahiolu, they were forced out of their homes last year as a result of the overflowed water from the canal. Some of the residents express fear that the overflowing water may again submerge their homes as was the case last year.

A resident of the area, John Amadi said: “Last year our homes were submerged and residents were forced out of their houses. The canal is cause for concern to us. We are always apprehensive whenever the rainy season sets in. The excess water from the canal always submerges our homes.”

The residents called on the state government to come to their aid by constructing drainages that will channel water out of residential areas.  

At Oyigbo and old Ahoada the story was the same.

Reacting, the Rivers State Commissioner for Environment, Professor Rosaline Konya, said the state government was not resting on its oar as it concerned the issue of tackling flooding in the state.

She however, called on residents to desist from building houses on water channels and dumping of refuse in drainage and to always clear their drainages.