By Obiabin Onukwugha
A Town Planner, Sopuruchi Njoku, has called on the Rivers State government to take action geared towards addressing the problem of flash flooding by reviewing the 1975 Master Plan in the state.
Njoku made the call, while reacting to the flood which affected most parts of Port Harcourt, the state capital due to heavy rain that lasted over eight hours on Monday.
Areas affected by the flash flood following the heavy rains included; Woji, Stadium Road, Nkpolu axis of the East-West Road, Ikwerre Road, parts of Old Port Harcourt Township, Rumuogba, Okporo and as well, Peter Odili Road, amongst others.
Reacting, Njoku blamed the situation on lack of proper planning from government and the attitude of residents towards the environment.
He said: “A situation whereby you see residents disposing their waste on the drains whenever it rains. Secondly, we have not been planning in the state for a very long time. The last time there was planning within the main Port township was forty five years ago. Planning is dynamic.
“Ten/twenty years ago, we were not experiencing this because there were vacant lands that were able to absorb these flood waters and now these lands have been built upon, and water you know, must find its way.”
Njoku warned that it would be more devastating in the future if government fails to take urgent steps in addressing the problem as there will be increased flooding due to global warming.
“Let’s review the 1975 Master Plan to see how we can ameliorate some of these challenges. Yes, it will be very expensive because a lot of sacrifice has to be made on the side of the government and the people.
“But it is worth doing, because if we don’t, the global warming is adding to flooding all over the world and this might be a child’s play. So the government has to act now. Let’s have a drainage master plan for each of the neighborhood”, he added.
Meanwhile most public transport users were left stranded, as commercial drivers parked their vehicles to wait for the waters to recede before they resumed business.