By Tina Amanda
A group known as the Movement for the Development of Oyigbo Ethnic Nationality has decried the continuous flooding in Oyigbo urban centres, causing severe environmental damage to the local government area.
In an interview with Correspondent, the group’s President, Victor Opute, called on the government of Rivers State to urgently put proper drainage that will be channelled to the Imo river.
“The flood ravage and the internal road deficit in Oyigbo urban is not a natural cause, neither is it a punishment from nature. It results from government negligence in fixing road infrastructures and putting in place drainage that will be channelled to the Imo river.
“We can not have a canal like the Imo river that can take a lot of flood in the city centre of Oyigbo urban, and we are still complaining.
“Those who have to investigate this should do so and assess the level of environmental damage the flood has caused in Oyigbo. People are feeling the negative impact of the flooding”.
A resident of Epele, close to Oyigbo urban by the name Philip Eke Chukwu, lamented that properties are usually lost anytime there is a flood incident.
“We lose fences and buildings every time we experience floods; government should come to our attention. The drainage that was initially done instead of sending flood into Imo river brings back the flood to us.
“There is a need to revisit what the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) did on the road, especially the palace road”.
Another female resident lamented they had all fled their houses at Epele close, Palace Road Oyigbo, as a result of the flood, noting that the flood had taken over their homes.
