By Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
Indigenes of some flood-prone communities in Rivers State, especially those of the riverine axis, are not happy with what they see as a lack of a plan for their safety ahead of the looming flood predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and several warnings by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for this year.
Some of them who spoke to TPCN on Wednesday complained that no proactive measures are being put on the ground to either prevent the flood or reduce its impact on their communities. They called for the state government’s urgent intervention.
Goodluck Ochima, a school teacher at Omoku, expressed fear that history may repeat itself if the flood comes the way it’s being predicted.
Ochima lamented: “The type of rains that are falling now shows how it will be when the big flood comes. The heavy rains are even disturbing us. Each time it falls, it will cover the roads and drainages and people will be finding it difficult to pass.
“If the flood comes again like in the past years, we will be in big trouble because no plan is being made to secure people’s lives and property. We’re not even talking about preventing it because that will not be possible when there are no such measures. The government is not doing anything yet. With all the warnings from NEMA, what are they waiting for? Is it when it starts they will come? Please government should act fast.”
Ulokah Ogbonna, a former shop owner at Oyigbo West, said despite the flood menace that made many people vacate most streets in the area, nothing has been done to remedy the situation even as more flooding is being expected.
“We have been complaining about this matter. That Oyigbo West side na no-go area anytime rain falls because the type of flood you go see is a very terrible one. We don’t abandon our shops because of the flood because the thing will just enter your house, enter your shop, cover the road, nowhere to pass.
“I think to say by now, the government for Don does something – at least do more gutters and open up channels for water to pass. But nobody cares for anybody. For us to return to that side now, maybe by December when the rain goes down. How person go dey get money to feed his family? In fact, this country dons tire me,” Ogbonna lamented.
TPCN learned that the situation is the same in the Engenni axis of the state.
An indigene of the area said they’re now living in fear because of what may happen if the flood comes, adding: “If only they know what we suffer here, they will pity us. People have lost their property, their farms, even their health, and their lives because of the flood
“The government agencies should come and help us.”
The situation appears to be worse in the Kalabari communities, especially those within the spheres of the Atlantic Ocean, such as Kula, Soku, and a few others that share a border with Bayelsa State.
Sources from those communities are unanimous in their belief that they have been abandoned to their fate. An indigene of Kula, a community in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, who chose to speak under condition of anonymity, wondered if any anti-flood measures and welfare plans are being made for them by government authorities.
“All these years, we have been suffering because of floods and other challenges. The water is more here, so na we dey suffer most. Up till now, no plan for our people. They only come for our oil, after that, government will forget us.,” he lamented.
An indigene of Soku, Christian Otiahasa, had last week cried out over the same issue. Speaking to a popular radio station in Port Harcourt, Otiahasa, a former CTC chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, accused the Rivers State Flood Management Committee of sidelining the flood-prone communities in Kalabari Land.
He said: “It is saddening to note that the communities that were affected in the past and will be affected by this flood are being sidelined by the Rivers State Flood Management Committee in all of its planning, its thoughts, and its actions.
“The whole of their duties have been concentrated on other aspects and Akuku-Toru people have been left to wallow in their own pains. The worrying aspect is that Kalabari people who are in government are keeping quiet because it has not affected the bigger communities.
“Today, people are running about wanting to hire houseboats. They’re preparing hire grounds. Where is the higher ground for Elem Sangama, for Soku, for Kuko kiri, for Otuke Kiri, Kalabamawoma 2, where are the higher grounds for these massive people? They’re being abandoned.
“It does appear they don’t have a government. Their government only exists when it comes to exploiting them, raping them for revenue gains. The Kalabari people are keeping quiet, very strangely. We cannot begin to keep quiet. We have to talk.”
The effort to reach the Rivers State Flood Management Committee to know its modalities for tackling the flood issues raised by these communities has not been fruitful so far.
However, TPCN gathered from sources in government that the committee is prepared to manage the flood situation in the state.
“I’m not a member of the committee neither am I in the position to speak for them. But I can tell you that the committee will deliver. Governor Sim Fubara is a man who does tolerate excuses and he has passion for Rivers people. He has mandated the flood committee to do its work well. I believe they will perform,” one of the sources said.
