Severe flooding in Delta State, has led to the displacement of approximately 6,000 residents in various riverine communities.
According to reports, the recurring flooding has resulted in the destruction of numerous properties, including houses and valuable belongings. Extensive Displacement and Property Damage.
The perennial flooding in Delta State has forced the relocation of 6,000 residents from riverine communities. Although no loss of life has been recorded, the devastation caused by the floods is substantial. Properties worth millions of naira, particularly houses and valuable belongings, have been destroyed.
Communities such as Burutu, Bomadi, Patani, parts of Ughelli metropolis, and Ogwashi Uku, specifically Ote-Owelle and Agidiase quarters, have a long history of suffering setbacks due to flooding.
Torrential downpours occur daily, exacerbating the damage to properties.
In Asaba and its surrounding areas, the situation is equally alarming. Residents of Ibusa end and other parts experience severe hardship during heavy rainfall. Their homes are inundated, and belongings, including food items, are swept away into the River Niger.
The residents of Ote-Owelle and Agidiase quarters in Ogwashi Uku Community have repeatedly expressed concerns about the dangers posed by a shallow burrow pit designed to contain rainwater within the area.
In response to the crisis, Dr. Kingsley Emu, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), emphasized the need for proactive measures.
He suggested relocating the affected residents and considering the opening of more Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps to alleviate their suffering.
Dr. Emu assured the public that the state government remains committed to protecting its citizens and sympathized with those affected by the flooding.
According to reports, a construction company, whose name remains undisclosed, dug a shallow burrow pit while constructing the Agidiase-Agidiehe link road and a section of the Ote-Owelle road axis, which residents are lamenting it creating more problems than the construction firm had intended to solve.
During heavy rainfall, the pit becomes flooded, causing water to surge and overflow, threatening nearby buildings.
The Delta State Ministry of Environment urges residents to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings to prevent flooding from sweeping their homes into gutters, particularly in riverine communities.
Dr. Minnie Oseji, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, emphasizes the need to dispose of refuse properly and not dump it on the streets.
The ministry plans to collaborate with relevant agencies, including the Waste Management Board, Environmental Taskforce, Local Government Environment Department, and law enforcement agencies, to enforce proper waste disposal practices. Non-compliance may lead to severe punishments for offenders.