Agency Blames Owerri Flooding On Indiscriminate Refuse Disposal

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has attributed the flooding in Owerri metropolis, the Imo State capital to indiscriminate waste disposal.

NEMA head of Operations for Imo and Abia States, Nnamdi Igwe, stated this at a sensitisation programme and downscaling of early warning messages on disaster preparedness and mitigation strategy in Owerri, yesterday.

The meeting brought together operatives from the 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Owerri, the Federal Fire Service (FSS), Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the state Emergency Management Agency, Nigerian Red Cross and several others.

Igwe said the continued attitude of some residents who dump refuse indiscriminately was the biggest cause of flooding in Owerri during and after rainfall.

According to him, such refuse accumulate and block drainage points which in turn caused flooding of roads, streets, and homes.

Igwe charged residents to desist from such habits noting that such continuous indiscriminate actions leads to disasters and emergencies which threatens lives, livelihoods, and development.

Further, he called on all government agencies involved in the management of crisis and emergency to partner with NEMA to provide emergency services, promptly to avoid loss of lives.

The NEMA boss said “Disasters and emergencies continue to threaten lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, and national development. Floods, fire outbreaks, road traffic crashes, disease outbreaks, environmental degradation, and other emergencies require coordinated action among all relevant stakeholders”.

Igwe disclosed that Oguta and Ohaji-Egbema local government areas had been identified as areas prone to flooding and assured that they were on ground.

Representative of the Disaster Response Unit of the 34 Artillery Brigade Owerri, Lt Col Sikiru Awodu assured that they were ready to provide speed boats to evacuate people during floods.

Awodu said the Disaster Response Unit operatives will be available to respond to any emergencies in the state including to escort relief materials distribution anytime.

He said, “We are ready to provide speed boats to evacuate displaced people during flooding and always ready to respond to any emergency upon notification. The Disaster Response Unit is ready to provide escort during relief materials distribution”.

The Imo State chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross, Barrister Greg Okemili appealed to the management of the Eastern Waste Management Agency (EWAMAC) to always clear the refuse accumulated during the monthly sanitation exercise to avoid blockage of drainages.

He advocated for a centralised information centre where agencies are immediately notified of emergency so that operatives are immediately sent to such places to ensure safety of others.

Representative of the Emergency Communication Centre admonished residents to save 112 as emergency contact number in their phones and appealed to people to always notify the agency so that they can alert the agency involved for the emergency.

Meanwhile, the participants called on the government to equip the agencies to replicate operations outside Owerri metropolis for immediate response to fire, flood, and accident emergencies.

Representatives of the disaster management agencies pledged their continued support to the management of emergency throughout the state.