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INDIGENES of coastal communities in Delta State have bemoaned the devastating effect of flood currently ravaging their communities following the surge in the water level in the River Niger and adjoining creeks. Affected communities include Abala-Obodo, Abala-Uno, Abala-Oshimili, Onya, Ase, Asaba-Ase, Ibedeni, Umuoru, Adia-Obiaka, all in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the state. Others are Uduophori and Patani, the headquarters of Patani Local Government Area.

Sources attributed the rise in the water level to incessant heavy downpour and systematic release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroun, resulting in the River Niger overflowing its banks.

Some residents have been displaced from their homes with farmlands and crops destroyed by the natural disaster in the communities. An indigene of Ase community, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Mr. Clinton Omokaro, said the flood has cut off the community.

Omokaro, however, added: “The flood is stable now, but the access road leading to the community between Aviara and Araya is submerged.

“No vehicle, not even motorcycle can get in, so we are taking an alternative route that is costlier, to get in. Getting commodities from other places has become very difficult for our people. Youth President of Abala clan, Ifeanyi Isaac Ogbolu, lamented that the flood ravaging the community has gone far beyond control
He said lives and properties “are being damaged heavily by this year’s flood,” appealing to the government to take necessary steps to provide the distressed people with adequate relief and support.
Ogbolu, in a letter addressed to the lawmaker representing Ndokwa East in Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Osamuta, said the recurring problems of floods and droughts had been causing widespread damage and destruction to people and their livelihoods.

“As we are all aware, these natural calamities cause immense harm and suffering to the people, and the government must take appropriate measures to mitigate the damages.

“We need succor, and at the same time, we need to get to a safer location and government empowerment to enable us to start all over again by 2025. In recent years, we have witnessed numerous floods and droughts, which have led to the loss of life, property, and crops.

“The situation becomes even more critical for the poor and vulnerable persons, who cannot cope with such situations.”
He also urged the government and relevant authorities to take immediate action and implement measures that could help reduce the impact of floods and droughts, including building flood and drought-resistant infrastructure; effective and efficient disaster management systems; encouraging sustainable farming practices that can reduce the impact of droughts; reforestation and increasing green cover.

“I request the government to take urgent steps to address these issues and ensure that adequate measures are taken to protect the lives and livelihoods of the people,” he noted
A flood victim at Uduophori, Mr. Ebruphiyo Akpibere, said some parts of the community have been submerged with some residents displaced from their homes.

Akpibere who moved his family into a shop owned by his wife in a higher part of town, said some victims had elevated platforms in their homes to keep their properties before moving out to stay with friends and relatives in higher parts of town and the community’s secondary school.

“The flood is frustrating and stressful; for a man and a family to reside in a shop is not an easy affair, it goes with a lot of stress.”
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, said the state government would not neglect the flood victims.

“We are not going to neglect flood victims. We are prepared to shelter them, to provide for them in terms of feeding, in terms of medicals, even those that are of school age, there is also provision for them to learn, so that the period they will be in IDP camps, they will not miss out academically.

“Our team, the flood management team, in collaboration with SEMA and NEMA, are going round the communities along the coastal line to sensitize them on the need to move out of the areas to higher ground, and preferably for those who have nowhere else to go to, to move to the camps.

“As of last Tuesday, we even sent some food materials and foodstuff to some already flooded communities to assist them in feeding. That is to tell you the level of our preparedness to ensure that flood victims will not suffer. As many as are ready to move to the Internally Displaced Persons’ camps, we are ready to accommodate them.