By Patrick Anaso
The residents of areas affected by flooding that occurred recently in Anambra will never forget July 27 when most parts of the state were submerged following a downpour that lasted for seven hours.
The residents of Awka, the state capital, describe the day as a moment of recalling the experience of the 2012 devastating deluge that claimed many lives and destroyed property.
They note that the rain started on that day at early hour and continued for almost seven hours, affecting the socio-commercial activities in Awka.
The residents said that the enormity of the damage and threat from the flooding moved Gov. Willie Obiano of the state to defy the downpour to visit some of the affected areas.
The governor who joined in the rescue operations commiserated with many victims of the flooding and assured them of government’s assistance, warning against building on flood plain and blocking of drains.
“We have cautioned our people to observe basic rules and guidelines when embarking on the construction of their buildings.
“People should desist from dumping refuse and blocking drains because it contributes to what we are witnessing now.
“Anyone caught in the act will contend with relevant laws and where found guilty will be punished,’’ he said.
Further to the governor’s caution, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, said it had issued another warning signal that some local government areas in the state were at high risk of flooding.
Chief Paul Odenigbo, Executive Secretary of the agency, listed the flood-prone areas as Anambra East, Anambra West, Oyi, Ogbaru, Anyamelum, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Awka North, Idemili North, Idemili South, Ihiala and Ekwusigo.
“There is great danger of flood in some local governments, we are warning residents to take simple precautions that will make the drains free and reduce risk.
“We are appealing to the public to complement the efforts of the government in providing relief to our brothers and sisters who may be affected.
“The 2012 flood is still fresh in our minds and we pray it never happens again,’’ he said.
However, observers note that the development on July 27 ought not to have caught many people unaware because there was an earlier warning signal by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
They argue that while Anambra and other affected states in the 2012 flooding are still counting their loss, adequate measures must be taken by the government, the residents and relevant stakeholders to prevent a recurrence of the deluge.
They recall that Dr Moses Beckley, the Director General of the agency had, at a presentation of 2015 edition of the Annual Flood Outlook, warned that 12 states might experience flooding.
The agency listed Niger, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Anambra, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kogi and Benue as flood-prone areas.
Observers recall further that Beckley specifically listed River Basins of Sokoto-Rima, Niger-Benue and Anambra as zones that might experience high flooding.
They opine that if stakeholders have taken appropriate measures on preventing flooding, the state would not have recorded loss to flooding.
For instance, Mr Obiakor Duru whose house was submerged in the flooding, said that no fewer than four persons were drowned in Owelle-Aja community of Obosi during the rain, observing that 20 residents of Obosi town were also declared missing.
The affected residents, nonetheless, claimed that they suffered the loss due to improper channeling of waterways during the construction of the Ezeiweka road.
In a protest in Awka, they said that Agu-Awka area of the town was worse hit while more than 10 buildings in Nwakpadolu Estate in the town and a transformer were submerged.
Chief Joseph Nwakpadolu, one of the owners of the estates, alleged that poor construction of flood channel behind the government house close to the site aggravated the flooding.
He recalled that he was among the few indigenes of the state who responded to the clarion call of former Gov. Chukwuemeka Ezife to Anambra indigenes elsewhere to come home and invest.
Similarly, Mr Chris Chukwuemeka, a fish farmer said that fisheries worth millions of naira were destroyed at Abube-Nando by the flooding.
“I started breeding the fish on March 12 and 20,000 pieces were due for harvest in August before the flooding,’’ he said.
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Chukwuemeka, therefore, urged the government to reconstruct major erosion sites in Oko, Nanka and other parts of the state as parts of measures to control flooding.
He urged the Federal Government to disburse and effectively monitor the spending of ecological funds to deserving states to enable them to tackle flooding holistically.(NANFeatures)