Flood: Residents Use Canoes To Access Streets, Roads In Rivers Communities

Several residents of the Port Harcourt metropolis have been seen in videos that have gone viral on social media using canoes to cross from one end of their streets to the other, following floods in several communities caused by non-stop rainfall over the past three days.

Several parts of the metropolis, including Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Harmony Estate, New GRA, Peter Odili Road, Eneka, Rukpokwu, and Alakahia, have been inundated by floodwaters.

Also affected are Oyigbo, Atali, Mgbuoba, Rumuoparali, Ogbogoro, Egbelu, Cornerstone and Iwoge areas of the Port Harcourt metropolis, among others.

An eyewitness who spoke on the situation described the flooding as alarming, particularly for residents in areas already affected by the rising water.

The continued rainfall has heightened concerns that more communities could be affected if the downpour persists.

Residents in the affected areas are calling for urgent attention, particularly in communities where floodwaters have entered homes and disrupted normal activities.

The residents have also accused the state government and construction companies handling major projects in the state of being behind the recent flooding in the communities.

However, the Rivers State government, which has recently been distributing relief materials to communities affected by the earlier flooding, seems to be quiet on the current development.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, a human rights activist, Courage Nsirimovu, accused the government and multinational companies of being behind the flooding in the Niger Delta communities.

Nsirimovu said: “It is apparent that the flooding in Rivers State is becoming a major environmental and humanitarian emergency already. We are aware that many factors are contributing to the flooding in Rivers State.

“We are aware of climate change, and we are experiencing gas flaring, which is exacerbating the situation in Rivers State. At this point, the government has to do its part in adaptation. It is critical.

“While we are trying to mitigate, fighting the multinationals to stop flaring and utilise it, instead of flaring it and increasing the level of climate disaster they are having in this part of the world.”

In a post on his official Facebook page, an elder statesman, Wenenda Wali, advised the Rivers State government to desilt the state’s drainages and canals to prepare for the worst flood.

Wali stated that during the tenure of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi, the first priority of his administration was the diking of drainages and other waterways in the state.

He wrote: “When His Excellency Chibuike Amaechi assumed office in 2007, one of the first projects he executed was the desilting of the drains in the Port Harcourt metropolis.

“I guess that’s not listed amongst the great achievements of that golden era, because as a people, the environment does not count. We are generally focused on brick-and-mortar projects. We don’t care about maintenance.

“It’s a common thing for us to dispose of refuse anyhow. Now, we are paying for the debt we owe the environment. Until we have governments and people who don’t see our gutters as refuse dumps, we will continue to have floods take over our city.

“If we don’t want the disaster that we are contending with now to be a recurring decimal, then we must all become environmental activists. It’s actually as simple as that.

“The first serious step our governor must take, whenever he comes back from his vacation, is the massive desilting of drains. Then, our environmental laws must be enforced.

“Secondly, urban and regional laws must also be enforced. Development control agencies must also be compelled to check indiscriminate building construction.

“People are building on waterways and channels, and we are acting like it doesn’t matter. When you build on channels, water will always find its level. It’s not always about the government, but the reckless behaviour of the citizens. We need to check our irresponsible relationship with the drains constructed by the government.

“When you pipe your sewage into the gutters, what do you expect? Blocked drains will naturally follow. We are collectively responsible for the city’s flooding. It’s not a natural disaster, but one caused by the irresponsibility of society.”