Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development says Human activities, not the water utility is the major reason for the recent flooding across parts of the city.
Speaking during a visit to the Premises and surroundings of Port Harcourt Water Corporation, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, Gune-Godin Wizuk, said this after an emergency inspection of hard-hit neighbourhoods as ordered by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
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The Permanent Secretary who was accompanied by his counterpart from the Ministry of Works, said following residents’ complaints that the Port Harcourt Water Corporation was to blame for the recent flooding, Inspectors found canals choked with waste debris that choked water flow, and wetlands turned into housing plots, stripping the land of its natural sponge.
Meanwhile, the Port Harcourt Water corporation says it is racing to finish its own storm-water fix.
The Production and Water Quality Manager Charlotte Iwokiri said a drainage project on the utility’s premises is already at 40 percent completion level as crews are adding new culverts, widening existing ones and clearing canals so floodwater from surrounding communities can escape faster.
The Officials urged residents to treat the canals and wetlands as critical infrastructure rather than dumping grounds or building sites if Port Harcourt is to stay dry when the rains return.
