Property owners and residents of Eket, a local government area of Akwa Ibom State, are counting losses, running into millions of naira in the aftermath of heavy rains that flooded and submerged over 50 homes in most parts of the oil city.
Several residents displaced by the floodwater lamented that they were caught unprepared by the heavy downpour on Tuesday.
“We had anticipated rains, but not of this magnitude. My house nearly caved in, and there was nothing we could salvage because most of my household properties were swept away by the river-like flood,” Essien Bassey, a civil servant, lamented.
“It was God doing that I was able to evacuate the children first before the surging water got to the highest level, but most of my personal effects and household properties could not be retrieved,” another victim, Ufot Etim, narrated.
“We are calling on government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and good-spirited Nigerians, including corporate organisations, to come to our aid because many of us are stranded and taking refuge in Churches,” Amanam Eyo begged.
Worst hit by the natural disaster included Idua road, Admiralty road, Atabong, and other surrounding areas of the Atabong River.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had listed Akwa Ibom as one of the flood-prone states to be most impacted by a heavy deluge of rains this year, with a projection of consistent rainfall of between 250 and 290 days. This would result in an attendant spread of water-borne diseases, especially cholera.
However, the governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has empathised with the victims, assuring them of succour to cushion the effects, but has urged residents to be proactive in tackling the environmental emergency given the early warning by NiMet.
“Akwa Ibom has been mentioned as one of the states that will experience flood this year. Therefore, we must prepare. Please, clean the drainages around you, and also organise community service for this.
“Government will embark on desilting of the drainages, but support the effort of government to succeed,” he charged.
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