For years now Rivers State has been battling to combat flooding in the State without tangible success in that direction. Last year or there about the Prof. Winston Bellgam led Committee for Flood Control struggled to dissilt some creeks and water channels, shortly after it was inaugurated by the State government to the admiration of the residents. But this year,2012,the committee has virtually gone into oblivion.
No effort has been made whatsoever to contain the menace of flooding. One now wonders what the committee is up to. Rain and flooding no doubt have sacked thousands upon thousands of Rivers State residents, with property worth millions of Naira destroyed in the process. The worse hit are, Shell Location Road linking Mgbuoba New layout, off Ada George. Iwofe Road, and Mgbuoba/Rumuigbo, as well as Mile 1 axis of the newly constructed Ikwerre Road of the Port Harcourt metropolis.
The Nigeria Meteorological Agency has continuously warned of excess rainfall and its attendant flooding in parts of Nigeria, especially coastal cities. In fact Lagos, Ibadan, Cross River and Yobe States, among several others have had their fair share of the menace. Just last Sunday the Agency reiterated its warning that the country will witness one of the worse heavy rainfalls in recent times between August and October this year, urging environmentalists and all stakeholders to take precautionary measures to prevent possible casualties.
The question now is amidst these cautions, what is the State government and indeed the Flood Control Committee doing about it? We are not aware that the committee in the state has started any work this year, otherwise why should most of the roads and streets in Port Harcourt be flooded despite the long break observed in this year’s rainy season. It will amount to carelessness, folly or utter negligence of duty by the appropriate authorities if after these series of warnings Rivers State still falls prey to this year’s rainy season. How do we explain that?
It is on this note that we are calling on the Flood Control Committee to as a matter of urgency mobilize to site, as virtually all the creeks, drainages and water channels in Rivers State are begging for attention. They should surmount whatever obstacle that has been confronting them in the discharge of their duties. We suggest and strongly too that the contacts of the Flood Committee be made public for information, tip-offs and feedback. This will definitely enhance performance of the committee. Government should on its part provide the committee with necessary logistics for optimum performance, for it is only when proper equipment are provided that the committee could be held accountable for lapses in their area of operations.
Posterity will not forgive us if we fail and a stitch in time they say saves nine. ###
