RIVERINE COMMUNITIES IN ANAMBRA CALL FOR HELP AS DATE FOR MORE RAVAGING FLOOD DRAWS NEAR

REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE

Earlier this year, there are predictions and warning signs from relevant government agencies that there will be flood in 32 states across Nigeria, including Anambra.

While those in the riverine areas seemed to take the predictions with a pinch of salt because according to them, they are used to it, some stakeholders were of the opinion that measures must be put in place to mitigate the effects of the natural disaster on the people in the event it occured.

Experts have identified some factors responsible for this turn of events to include increasing heat vapour caused by the depletion of the ozone layers by various activities, excess rainfall, building on waterways, opening of Lagdo Dam by Cameron, among others.

This has made it imperative that both the federal, state and the international communities must put measures in place to ensure that residents of the riverine areas and the entire nation are not consumed by the ravaging disaster whenever it comes.

A resident of Otuocha and victim of 2022 flood incident in Anambra state, Mr. Anthony Omazu, recounted that all the communities across the river, including Mkpunando, Enugu Otu, Eziagulu Otu, were all devastated leaving them stranded.

Mr. Omazu stressed the need for regular sensitization towards ensuring that those in the flood prone areas would take the warnings very seriously and prepare to evacuate as soon as possible.

Mr. Pius Obiora from Achalla, Awka North Local Government Area said though the state Emergency Management Agency had trained some of them, a lot more was still needed.

Mr. Omazu who agreed that early preparation was key to solving the numerous challenges witnessed last year, also said there was the need for regular sensitization so that those in the riverine areas could take the warnings very seriously and prepare to evacuate as soon as possible.

An expert in flood mitigation matters, Mr. Chukwudi Onyejekwe, said all emergency first responders must observe some necceassry measures as part of mitigation strategy.

A farmer, Ms Uchenna Onuama, lamented that most of them were not able to harvest their produce including rice before the 2022 flood caught up with them.

She noted that if the Federal Government could construct at least two dams, it would no doubt contain the volume of water from neighboring Cameron and reduce the level of flood disaster in Nigeria.

For his part, Mr. Cajetan Okafor from Nzam in Anambra West Local Government Area, is worried that the aged persons in those communities have refused the predictions about flooding.

He added that the difficulties in accessing medicare and the isues of security challenges were some factors discouraging many from evacuating to holding camps.

But how prepared is the Anambra State Government to mitigate the impact of the impending flood on the people?

The Commissioner for Health, Anambra State, Dr. Afam Obidike, said government was more prepared than it was last year to manage the flood incident.

In an interview, the Executive Secretary of State Emergency Management Agency SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo, said arrangements had been concluded in readiness for the flood.

Chief Odenigbo said over 150 Local Emergency Management Committees had been trained as first responders to the disaster.

He noted that the present administration would leave no stone unturned this year as all the relevant agencies and stakeholders were collaborating to prevent whatever lapses that were pointed out by the people.

Chief Odenigbo therefore advised the people in the riverine areas to harvest their matured agricultural produce and also get all their relevant belonging, including certificates and other valuables ready, so that they could relocate to higher grounds whenever they were told to do so.

According to the predictions by NIHSA and NIMET, the flood prone areas are expected to be flooded from the 15 of September 2023.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU