Flood Sacks 100 Rivers Communities …As RSG Names 12-man Rehabilitation Team

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has
constituted a 12-man committee to put in place measures that would guarantee
the safety of those affected by flood in over 100 communities in Ahoada-West,
Ahoada-East, and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni local government areas of the state.

Speaking shortly after an emergency council meeting on
Sunday at Government House, Port Harcourt, the state Commissioner for Information
and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari said, the flood response committee
would be chaired by the Deputy Governor, Engineer Tele Ikuru.

Ibim explained that investigation have shown that over 100
communities were affected by flood in the state, hence the need for government
to constitute a committee to review the issues and bring succour to those
affected by the flood.

According to the information commissioner, “at least over
100 communities have been affected by the unfortunate incident, and Exco has
constituted a committee chaired by the deputy governor to put in place measures
that would guarantee the safety of our people”.

“This is because of the interest Exco attaches to the
emergency situation. There has been a lot of distress on our people, their
homes were submerged by the flood”, she said.

The commissioner also said, camps would be set up in each of
the areas affected by the flood, while food, shelter, medical treatment and
adequate drinking water would be provided to ensure that the victims are in a
safe environment.

The commissioner explained that some of the new model
primary schools built by the current administration that have not been put to
use would serve as immediate relief centres for displaced victims.

She further said, the measure was to reduce the pains that
the people feel, adding that, government would guarantee minimal risks as plans
to set up camps for victims would commence today.

It would be recalled that earlier Saturday, the governor had
visited some of the flood-ravaged communities in Ahoada West and
Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas of the state, during which he assured
the victims of government’s moves to provide relief materials for them.

The governor visited Okwuzi, Obrikom and Egbema Ebocha in
Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, and Kala and Opugbogolo in Ahoada West Local Government Area
of the state.

Amaechi said, urgent and drastic steps would be taken to
provide shelter, food and healthcare services for the displaced victims.

According to Amaechi, “by Monday, we expect the executive
council committee to take over. They will come with mattresses, clean potable
water, food and medical items. Where we have primary schools, those people that
are displaced should take over”.

“We will get doctors to come and see if there are water-borne
diseases, we will see what we can do to assist them”, he said.

Amaechi called on the Federal Government to come to the
rescue of the state as it has been submerged by flood, like some other parts of
the country.

According to him, “we will get the Federal Government to
know that the flood also affected Rivers State. We never knew that the flood
affected Rivers State until some few days ago. And it is bad, very bad. What I
saw today is a monumental national disaster. We must act quickly. I have called
for an emergency State Executive Council meeting tomorrow (Sunday) for us to
start addressing the flood disaster immediately.”

“For us in the state, we won’t wait for the Federal
Government. We have a lot of primary schools scattered all over here. If there
is no water, we will get water for them so that the people can drink good
water. We are sorry about this, it’s not government’s fault, this is natural
disaster and we will act quickly to save lives and help our people”, he said.