Several residents of the Port Harcourt metropolis have been seen on videos that have gone viral on social media using canoes from one end of their street to the other, follow flood in several communities occasioned by non-stop rainfall that has lasted for three days.
This is as the Rivers State government has keep silent over that has several communities in the state for the past last three days.
Several parts of the metropolis, including
Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Harmony Estate
New GRA, Peter Odili Road, Eneka, Rukpokwu and Alakahia areas have been taken over by flood.
Also affected are Oyigbo, Atali, Mgbuoba, Rumuoparali, Ogbogoro, Egbelu, Cornerstone and Iwoge areas of the Port Harcourt metropolis, among others.
An eyewitness who spoke on the situation described the flooding as alarming, particularly for residents in areas already affected by the rising water.
The continued rainfall has heightened concerns that more communities could be affected if the downpour persists.
Residents in the affected areas are calling for urgent attention, particularly in communities where floodwaters have entered homes and disrupted normal activities.
The residents have also accused the state government and construction companies handing major projects in the state of being behind the recent flooding in the communities.
However, the Rivers State government, which has recently been distributing relief materials to communities affected by the earlier flooding seems to be quiet off current development.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP, a human rights activist, Courage Nsirimovu, accusing the government and multinational companies of being behind the flooding in communities in the Niger Delta.
Nsirimovu said, “It is apparent that the flooding in Rivers State is becoming a major environmental and humanitarian emergency already. We are aware that there are a lot of forces or issues contributing to the flooding in Rivers State.
“We are aware of climate change, we are gas flaring, which is esaxabetings the situation in Rivers State. At this point in time, the government has to do their own part of adaptation. It is critical.
“While we are trying to mitigate, fighting the multinationals to stop flaring and utilize it, instead of flaring it and increasing the level of climate disaster they are having in this part of the world.”
In a post on his official Facebook page, an elder statesman, Wenenda Wali, advised the Rivers State government to desilt the drainages and canals within the state of prepare for the worst flood.
Wali stated that during the tenure of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi, the first priority of his administration was the dilesilting of drainages and other waterways in the state.
He wrote, “When His Excellency Chibuike Amaechi assumed office in 2007, one of the first projects he executed was the desilting of the drains in the Port Harcourt metropolis.
“I guess that’s not listed amongst the great achievements of that achievements of that golden era, because as a people the environment does not count. We are generally focused on brick and mortar projects. We don’t care about maintenance.
“It’s a common thing for us to dispose refuse anyhow. Now, we are paying for the debt we owe the environment. Until we have governments and people that don’t see our gutters as refuse dumps, we will continue to have flood take over our city.
“If we don’t want the disaster that we are contending with now, to be a a reoccurring decimal, then we must all become environmental activists. It’s actually as simple as that.
“The first serious step our governor must take, whenever he comes back from his vacation, is the massive desilting of drains. Then, our environmental laws must be enforced.
“Secondly, urban and regional laws must also be enforced. Development control agencies must also be forced to check indiscriminate construction of buildings.
“People are building on waterways and channels, and we are acting like it doesn’t matter. When you build on channels, water will always find its level. It’s not always about the government, but the reckless behavior of the citizens. We need to check our irresponsible relationship with drains constructed by government.
“When you pipe your sewage into the gutters, what do you expect? Blocked drains will naturally follow. We are collectively responsible for the flooding of the city. It’s not a natural disaster, but one caused by the irresponsibility of the society.”
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