Heavy rainfall displaces residents in Oghara
By Abdullahi Lukman
Heavy rainfall has displaced residents and submerged homes and property in parts of Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, as the state government begins an assessment of the damage and considers measures to provide relief to affected households.
The flooding, which followed several days of intense rainfall, forced some residents to evacuate their homes, with several families left counting their losses.
The state Commissioner for Bureau of Special Duties, Ejiro Terry Etacherure, led members of the State Emergency Management Team on an inspection of the affected communities on Monday to determine the extent of the damage and identify areas requiring urgent intervention.
Etacherure sympathised with the affected residents and said the assessment would guide the government’s response, including possible immediate relief and longer-term measures to address recurring flooding in the area.
He said the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori remained committed to protecting the lives and property of residents, while stressing that effective flood management also required cooperation from the public.
The commissioner urged residents to stop dumping refuse in drainage channels and avoid building on waterways, warning that such practices could obstruct the flow of stormwater and worsen flooding.
He also directed the Environmental Department of the Ethiope West Local Government Council to commence sensitisation campaigns across Oghara and ensure that blocked drainage channels were cleared.
Etacherure further advised residents to regularly clear their surroundings and drainage channels as part of efforts to minimise the impact of heavy rainfall.
Speaking on behalf of the Oghara community, Edafe Abada described the flooding as severe, saying several houses had been submerged and some residents forced to leave their homes.
Abada appealed to the state government to urgently improve drainage infrastructure and assist families whose homes and belongings were damaged.
Flooding has remained a recurring challenge in parts of Delta State, with Oghara previously listed among areas requiring flood and erosion-control interventions. The state government also intensified flood preparedness in August by identifying vulnerable communities and potential emergency shelters ahead of the peak of the rainy season.
The government said the ongoing assessment would help determine the immediate response required and inform measures to reduce the frequency and impact of flooding in Oghara.
