The Inter-ethnic Network for Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, INCRA, a luminary Pan-Rivers media front in Rivers State, urges the Rivers State government to hasten actions geared towards curbing the increasing flood situation in the State.
The rate of inundation experienced in recent times is alarming and calls for concerted efforts on the side of the State government and other relevant agencies as well as cooperation on the part of members of the public to bring the situation under control.
We recall vividly that on June 11, 2017, we commended the de-silting of drainages along the Ikwerre road axis of Port Harcourt, commenced by the government and suggested other flood flash points where the exercise should be extended to. We also warned that if operative flood control measures were not put in place in consultation with experts as quickly as possible, the entire Port-Harcourt city would be sacked by flood due to unremitting rainstorms and poor drainage systems.
In the same vein, we advised the government to critically consider the need for a networked functional drainage system if it must adequately tackle the issue of deluge, given the tableland topography of Port Harcourt. However, it does appear that the government did not heed our advice as we have witnessed worsened floodage with devastating effects in less than 48 hours of rainstorm.
INCRA calls on the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to assist the State government in ensuring that destruction of properties and number of casualties are minimised sufficiently. More rainstorms have been predicted and it is only proper that effective preventive measures are put on ground to curtail the impact of the torrents of flood.
In the coming weeks, we would expect to see same actions taken by the immediate past administration in the State, which proved effective in checking the flood menace, replicated by the present government.
INCRA.
Ubima, Rivers State,
July 25, 2017.
