FIC Report (Rivers State) – The Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has reiterated that the current administration, led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is unwavering in its dedication to achieving an effective flood prevention and management in Rivers State.
She emphasized this during a press briefing held on Tuesday, 12 November, 2024, before the committee on Flood Prevention and Management moved truck-loads of relief materials to some Councils in the Orashi region Local Government Areas in Rivers State.
Prof. Odu who doubles as the Chairman of the Flood Prevention and Management Committee, stated that the administration of Governor Fubara is concerned about the plight of the people, and is committed to improving the living conditions of the people.
“His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara inaugurated the State Flood Prevention and Management committee after the prediction of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), that 18 LGAs in the State are likely to be flood prone.”
She narrated that the committee immediately sprang into action, and there are several phases involved for the committee to follow.
“We have the first phase, and that is what we call the pre-flood phase, and that is the sensitization phase. The second phase is when the flood is on, which entails the mitigation actions that should be taken. And the third phase is post-flood interventions.
“For the first phase, we had to do alot of sensitization, so people know what to look out for, and what to do if a flood situation arises”, she disclosed.
“We also had meetings with the Caretaker Committee (CTC) chairmen”, which according to her affirms how far back the committee have been working.
Speaking further Prof Odu said that when the CTC chairmen left, the substantive chairmen were also met, and advised by the committee to set up their own flood committees, and their flood committees must have amongst others, a public health medical officer, and environmental sanitation officers.
The idea according to her, is so that the health component and the environmental component work together in addition to other members in the committee.
Prof. Odu noted that tackling flooding is a tripartite work, where the Federal, State, and Local governments have to work in synergy to address the challenges.
She also noted that the local government chairmen in the State were suppose to identify highlands, so in case there is flood, the highlands can be used as Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps. Then the sanitation officers are also to inspect if the areas are habitable.
She further added that local government chairmen have been notified, “of what their responsibilities are over and above what was just stated. For example, cleaning of the gutters in LGAs, sensitizing people and the repairs of little culverts that are broken down, to help with the flow of water in the gutters and drain.
“After that we decided to hold a general sensitization workshop where we called experts to be part of. The essence was to announce the importance of what people need to do as individuals, as government and as organizations.
“Having done that, the flood started coming in. So going by NiMet prediction, there are areas that are more prone to flood than others. By location of LGAs, the areas are the Orashi region LGAs -Abua Odual, Ahoada West, Ahoada East, and ONELGA.”
She also confirmed that the committee has moved into the affected communities, distributing relief materials such as 10kg bags of garri, cartons noodles, bags of rice, wrappers, blankets and cooking oil to the affected victims.
She said the relief materials will be monitored as there have been complaints of diversion of relief materials in previous years. According to her, “We have hotlines, one in the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo’s office, another in my office, and also a WhatsApp group”.
She acknowledged the inadequacy of IDP camps in some flood-ravaged communities, but stated that the government was intensifying efforts to set up more camps.
Other members of the Flood Prevention and Management committee include Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Honourable Commissioner for Social welfare and Rehabilitation, Chief Ilanmi Arugu, Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Engr Charles Amadi, Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Sam Anya, Commissioner for Special Projects, Dr. Roland Obed Whyte, the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communications, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, and Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Sydney Gbara.
The Committee held its inaugural meeting on Monday, September 23, 2024, in the Deputy Governor’s office, Government House, Port Harcourt.
Signed
Helen Nsirim, PhD
PIO
For: Head of Centre
Port Harcourt
