Flood: RSG Predicts Hard Time

The Rivers State Government says, the state is in for a hard
time as flood continue to ravage some communities in the state.

Commissioner for Environment Dr. Nyema Weli who said this at
the weekend while addressing newsmen during this month’s environmental
sanitation exercise also said that government is helpless in keeping away the
water from submerging the communities.

He however said that gov ernment would continue to advise the
people in the impacted areas to move to higher grounds for their safety, while
efforts would be made to provide the needed assistance to them.

“We would be educating them on measures they can take to
help themselves, in addition to whatever help that is coming from government.

“I want to use this medium to communicate to our people that
the flooding season is not over, first thing you must do, is to make sure you
and your family evacuate and go to a higher ground, where it is safe for you”,
he said.

Meanwhile the Rivers State Ministry of environment says, the
state environmental sanitation Authority has no power to issue exemption letter
to anybody during sanitation exercise.

Speaking against the background of claims by some company
drivers especially from Onne axis, that
they have been exempted from the exercise the commissioner said that
such exemption letter must emanate from the ministry of Environment.

He also deplored the attitude of some secretary officials
particularly the police for violating sanitation rules, staressing that such
situation is not in the interest of the state.

Dr. Weli however said that the state would soon come up with
a legal fromeword that would check all unwholesome activities during sanitation
exercise.

The chairman Eleme local government area, Hon. Orji Ngofah
said that the council is working hard to ensure cleanliness in the area 33
persons were arrested during he exercise.

Following the ungoing flooding sweeping across the state,
the people of Enughan in the Abual/Odual local government area of the state has
lost their farms to the flooding.

Investigations revealed that all the communities that make
up Enughan Clan were now into forced harvesting of Cassava, yams and other farm
produce.

Beginning from Okoboh, Emabu, Obarany,Emesu, Egunughan,
Aminighoko and Owerewere, farmers were seen paddling canoes full of farm
produce.

A  cross Section of
the farmers spoken to said in times past, they had time to harvest their
produce at their own pace, but now the reverse is the case.

He said most of them lost substantial parts of their farms
to the flood due to the speed with which the water was moving.

According to the Community Development Committee chairman of
Aminigboko, Mr. Chukwudi Georgewill, “hard times awaits the people” because
they have harvested and even lost a lot of farmlands and crops to the flood.

King Osila