Asaba – Asaba, Delta State capital has become ravaged by flood, throwing residents, shop owners and commuters in distress.
The flood, which is a result of the persistent rainfall and bad drainage system in the capital city has defied all solutions and are calling on the state and local governments to come to their aid.
Residents of Asaba, while bemoaning the flooding situation in the state capital called on the state government to save them from being totally displaced as many of them have abandoned their homes due to severe flooding.
According to the residents, waste from the carnal and bad drainage systems have not been dug and abandoned.
This is against the promise of Gov Ifeanyi Okowa, who, assured residents of his administration’s commitment towards ensuring the state remains flood free all year round.
The residents appealed to the Delta State government to help construct better drainage systems and to help them clear existing ones, which has been unattended to for couple of years, thereby leading to spill of water on the roads, schools and houses.
This development of neglect, according to them has made it impossible for passers-by to walk through the floods to their various homes and destinations.
The most affected areas from Nnebisi roads through the Ogbogonogo market to the adjoining Ogbeilo and other Umuonaje streets, included Idumugbe, Omangwele, Umuoje and Kwekagbo; others include Asaba town hall (Ogwa Ukwu) junction through Ogbosowa and Umudaike to Umuagu Altar to Maduemezie road via Zappa through Opechi and Stop-Over junction to Winners Church axis including back of former ministry of land. Equally affected were Ezenei, Idumu-Odikpe to St Bridget and the adjoining streets amongst other streets and communities in Asaba. Infact, virtually every part of Asaba were affected by flood.
Speaking to newsmen, a community leader and Diokpa of Idumugbe community in Asaba, Ogbueshi Samuel Amaubosi Immuna said they need the help of the state government to construct new standard drainage systems to control flooding in the state capital.
“Flood has taken over Asaba, Delta state capital. It is difficult to move out when rain fall, not to mention some of our appliances and chairs which have been destroyed by the flood these few days. We need the intervention of the government to construct new and standard drainage systems to save us from the flood.
The Diokpa who spoke through his representative and Onu Diokpa, Ogbueshi Eugene Umunna, said, just one rainfall, everywhere in the community has turned to a pool and we cannot move in and out of our houses, what will be our fate when the rain continues intensely as predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Services (NIMET).” He lamented.
Joy, a young bride who lost most of her belongings to the recent downpour, said “the flood has taken away most of the things I have, I am now left with mat which we sleep on. The situation had become worst and sadly, the government is not doing anything about it. The government merely focused attention at Okpanam roads by Midwifery markets, Asaba and left internal roads unattended. This does not tell good of the present state government.” She added.
While many families have sought shelter elsewhere to protect themselves, those who cannot afford to leave have fled to elevated places whenever it rains.
According to Mama Nkechi, an old widow, “All the things I moved with into this community have been destroyed. If we go out to work and it starts raining, we begin to worry and panic, because we know that there won’t be a place for us to sleep. It means a night of trouble, cold and mosquitoes. When we return to see our homes flooded, we go to bed hungry as there will be no place to cook.”
Another resident, Michael, a primary school teacher, said the flood, coupled with fluids from decomposing materials at the landfill, contaminate boreholes in the area and make the water unsafe for consumption. If you take a look closely you would see water in some churches, schools. Well, you would also see children bailing them off their classes before attending to their classes. It’s unfortunate that the right thing is never done to prevent crisis in the future.
“What will it take to get this done? are we saying these part of the state capital does not deserve to be looked at or taking care of?. The site is very shameful whenever it rains. The question is, who has bewitched us from doing the right thing.” He added
Nwoke Sylvanus, a businessman whose shop is located along the road is concerned about the flooding, saying he has lost many customers. “The bad drainage system is the main reason for this flooding. There is nowhere for the water to go out that is why the roads are flooded. Gradually, the water is becoming stagnant. It has affected sales so badly because no customer would want to step inside the dirty water just to get something they could easily get elsewhere”
Mrs Ngozi Okolie an Asaba resident lamented that it has become very difficult to leave her street and has to make use of a commercial motorcycle to move around, while pleading for urgent intervention from the government to arrest the problem posing a threat to their sources of livelihood.
Ezinne Okeke said, “We need the government to come to our rescue. I am a widow and I feed my family from this business. I cannot afford to lose all my customers. It is not just about fixing the roads and the drainage system, but about constant checks and maintenance too. If this is not taken care of soonest, we might probably vacate the area.” She sighed
The residents said it is a thing of deep regret that the state government only constructed the Asaba storm water drainage as a proactive measure to merely address flooding from Okpanam road to Shoprite area in Asaba, while leaving the internal roads and streets in Asaba unattended and called for urgent attention to check further disasters due to flooding in the capital city.
