The Rivers State Flood Prevention and Management Committee has made an urgent appeal to the Federal Government, FG, requesting intervention to dredge the heavily silted Orashi River.
The committee identifies the silted river as a primary factor behind the persistent annual flooding that impacts at least four Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.
The appeal was issued by the committee’s Chairman and Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu, during a press briefing at Government House.
Prof. Odu also announced that the committee’s full operations have resumed following the successful reopening of its dedicated intervention fund account, which had been temporarily frozen during the shift from emergency rule to democratic governance.
The committee, initially established during an emergency period and recently reactivated about five weeks ago by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is now focused on its mitigation phase.
This phase is one of three core operational stages, which include advocacy/prevention and post-flood intervention.
The Deputy Governor, who now chairs the body with the current Secretary to the State Government (SSG) serving as Vice Chairman, confirmed that key discussions have already taken place with leaders from the most flood-prone LGAs: Ahoada West, Ahoada East, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA), and parts of Abua/Odual.
Prof. Odu outlined the committee’s next steps, which include visits to flood-affected communities to meet with victims and begin the distribution of relief materials.
These supplies are designated for residents both in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and those who choose to remain in their homes.
She clarified that approximately 80 percent of the original intervention funds had already been utilized by the previous committee for essential services, including the renovation of IDP camps, the installation of boreholes, and the purchase of non-perishable relief materials, which are currently being securely stored at the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder barracks.
The committee plans to work closely with local government chairmen to ensure the fair distribution of relief items, specifically targeting households that remain in their communities.
Beyond the river-induced flooding, Prof. Odu addressed urban flash floods in Port Harcourt and other cities.
She attributed these mostly to blocked drainage systems, which are a direct result of residents’ indiscriminate dumping of refuse and illegal construction on water channels.
She stressed that effective flood management requires collective responsibility involving the Federal, State, and Local Governments, as well as every citizen.
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To bolster local response, all LGAs have been mandated to form 13-man flood control committees responsible for clearing drains, repairing culverts, and overseeing community sanitation.
The Deputy Governor also announced a forthcoming visit by a delegation—led by the SSG (Vice Chairman) and the Head of Service—to a family that recently lost two children in a flood-related incident, to deliver condolences and support.
Following the press briefing, Prof. Odu led committee members and journalists on an inspection of the ready-to-distribute relief materials.
