Rivers Needs N100bn To Tackle Flooding – Committee

About N100 billion is needed to provide an efficient drainage to tackle the problem of  flooding in Rivers State.                Chairman of the State Flood  Management Committee, Prof Winston Bellgam made this known while speaking at a phone-in programme organised by the Silverbird Communications over the weekend in Port Harcourt.

Prof. Bellgam disclosed that about N45 billion is needed in each of the flood flashpoints areas identified by the committee, which include Airforce/Market Junction, Peter Odili Road, D-Line and St Johns Bus stop in Port Harcourt.

Considering the huge fund required to tackle the menace of flooding, Prof Bellgam stated that the committee is on the verge of applying to the Ecological Fund to provide assistance to the state considering its status as the treasure base of the nation.

He  also disclosed plans by the committee to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Environment to address the flood problem of· the state.

Proffering solutions on how to solve the city’s flooding problem, the chairman of the Rivers State Flood Management Committee stressed the need for improved publicity in the local areas, which he said are more prone to flooding due to their terrain.

He maintained that the Local government council chairman also needs to  develop action plan to tackle flooding in their domains, adding that increased publicity and enlightenment are needed in the rural areas to maintain their drains, and to improve their environment conservation attitude, most especially tree planting.

(Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Environment, Barrister Rufus Godwin, says  the state government has evolved stringent measures to check the anti- environment attitude of residents as it has  started prosecuting offenders.

He said,” the environment has the right to exist alongside with man” and as such the government would not condone any act that would violate environmental laws such as  dumping drains and cutting down trees indiscriminately.

Currently he submitted that the state has established five sanitation courts and that government has given marching orders to prosecute offenders.  Barrister Godwins further said, “ we will continue to use the willingness of the law and that provided by our governor to protect the environment.”