‘Failure To Heed Early Warning Signal Responsible For Akwa Ibom Flood Disaster’

The Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has expressed concern and sorrow over the recent flood disaster in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, and other communities in adjoining local government areas, including Itam in Itu local government area.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the ongoing downpour since last Thursday has wreaked havoc across several parts of the state, resulting in reported deaths, the destruction of property worth millions of naira, and the displacement of hundreds of residents struggling with the prevailing socio-economic challenges.

The director of CHRAN, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, in a statement jointly signed by the secretary, Research and Documentation, Comrade Etimbuk Ekpenyong, described the flooding that started on July 8, 2026, as “a tragic incident that has left many families devastated.”

The rights group raised concerns about the level of preparedness among relevant government agencies, given the early warning signal from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which listed Akwa Ibom State among the 28 states most affected by flooding as the thick rainy season sets in.

The CSO noted that the scale of destruction witnessed in Uyo and the surrounding communities called into question the effectiveness of the existing flood prevention and management measures, adding that reactive, rather than proactive, actions should have reduced the current level of destruction to the barest minimum.

“The federal government had earlier issued flood forecasts and warnings to several states, including Akwa Ibom, giving the authorities sufficient time to undertake preventive measures such as desilting drainage channels, clearing waterways, strengthening emergency response systems and sensitising vulnerable communities,” the centre recalled.

It asked, “What proactive actions were taken by the state government to mitigate the impact of the predicted flooding? Were ministries, departments (MDAs) and other relevant agencies not adequately mobilised to desilt the clogged drainage infrastructure properly before the rains?”

CHRAN also expressed concern over what it described as the absence of visible executive leadership in the aftermath of the disaster, noting that Governor Umo Eno had yet to personally visit the affected communities or bereaved families, aside from media statements and advocacies, stressing that “the presence of the governor during a crisis situation serves as a source of comfort and reassurance to victims.”