The Rivers State Government has begun distributing relief materials and stepping up health interventions for communities devastated by the 2026 floods, as health officials warn that displacement and contaminated water sources raise the risk of disease outbreaks among affected residents.
Leading the Rivers State Flood Management Committee to Oyigbo Local Government Area on Tuesday, Deputy Governor Prof. Mrs. Ngozi Nma Odu said the intervention would address both immediate survival needs and the health risks that typically follow flooding, including waterborne infections, skin diseases, and respiratory illness linked to overcrowded shelters.
Odu assured residents that support would be non-partisan, stressing that flooding does not discriminate by political affiliation and neither would government assistance. The committee, reconstituted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, selected Oyigbo as an early intervention site following reports from the local council, while a separate team led by the Head of Service is carrying out similar work in Eleme Local Government Area.
Beyond food and non-food items, health-related concerns featured prominently in the visit. Odu identified blocked drainage channels and structures obstructing waterways as major drivers of flash flooding, both of which create stagnant water conducive to mosquito breeding and cholera transmission. She urged residents to report obstructions promptly to reduce recurring flood exposure and its associated health hazards.
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Relief supplies distributed included 150 bags of rice, 500 bags of beans, 30 bags of salt, 40 gallons of palm oil, 300 packs of vegetable oil, 107 bags of garri, and 200 cartons of noodles, alongside hygiene-related items such as 200 buckets, 100 towels, 200 body creams, and 200 bathing soaps intended to support sanitation among displaced families.
The Deputy Governor said the government’s response would extend beyond material distribution to include post-flood health and needs assessments, with residents not accommodated in Internally Displaced Persons camps also considered for support. She disclosed that the state is collaborating with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to secure additional relief supplies from Abuja for onward distribution to Oyigbo.
Public health experts generally caution that flood-affected communities face heightened exposure to cholera, typhoid, malaria, and skin infections in the weeks following a disaster, particularly where clean water and sanitation facilities are disrupted. Odu’s emphasis on hygiene supplies and continued monitoring reflects an effort to pre-empt such outbreaks.
She appealed to philanthropists, corporate organisations, and well-meaning individuals to complement government efforts, and pledged that the Flood Management Committee would continue monitoring affected areas statewide and providing further relief as needed.
Receiving the delegation, Oyigbo Local Government Chairman, Hon. (Eld.) Okechukwu Akara Nwaogu, commended the state government for its timely intervention. Odu was accompanied by the Commissioner for Education and other committee members during the visit.
