Brave Dickson
The people of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State have appealed to the state and local government authorities as well as other philanthropists to help procure more canoes for them ahead of flooding in the state.
The prices of canoes have increased in the state due to deforestation leading to tree scarcity.
The villagers of the flood-prone ONELGA area of the state said canoes used to help a lot in evacuating their children and property to save places when the flood surges.
In an interview with our correspondent, a group established to management environmental crises in the area known as: Environmental Friendly Initiative Association said it was mandated by the villagers to appeal for more canoes on their behalf.
The Director-General of the group, Ikechukwu Ojobah said, “my people in Egba, Egi and Egbema excluding Omoku are panicking now because our river tide has started rising.
“Some of my people have rushed into premature harvesting of their crops because for sure, our area will be flooded this year too.
“Though when the flood comes, authorities from government and some philanthropists usually come to sympathize with us and sometimes give us relief materials.
“But our problem now is how to get more canoes to evacuate the children and property when the flood begins.
“My organization has been mandated by the affected villagers to solicit assistance from government and other philanthropists to help provide us with some canoes.
“There are some floods that will come and cut off an entire community from its neighbours, which we have experienced in the past and only canoes can help save our children and property.”
