RVHA Tasks Ministries On 2013 Flooding

Following the appearance of three commissioners before the Rivers State House of Assembly, the lawmakers have directed the ministries to begin preparatory plans to mitigate the expected heavy rainfall that would cause flooding in the state as predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree gave the directive yesterday when the Commissioners for Environment, Mr Nyema Weli, Special Duties, Mr Dickson Omunakwe and Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, briefed the House on the activities of their ministries regarding the expected 2013 flooding.

Hon. Amachree charged the ministries to start preparations for the anticipated heavy rain fall and floods to reduce the impact on the lives of Rivers people and to avoid the emergency arrangement of last year.

He reminded the Commissioners that the House may re-invite them when the need aroses but directed that they prepared detailed work plan of action and forward same to the Assembly before the end of April, 2013.

Briefing the lawmakers, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Dickson Umunakwe said the State Special Flood Committee approved and procured seedlings and suckers for farmers in the four affected local government areas to enable them start their farms again.

He disclosed that his ministry had produced jingles, fliers and had commenced enlightenment campaigns to sensitise the people on the possible flood as predicted by NIMET.

Responding to a question, Mr Umunakwe acknowledged that the committee received complaints to the effect that the farm seedlings and suckers were not properly distributed, and the committee summoned the affected council chairmen.

The Special Duties Commissioner said he assumed office January 16, 2013, and therefore could not provide answers to some of the issues raised by the lawmakers but hinted that he had visited some of the affected communities in Ahoada East, West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni.

The Commissioner for Environment, Mr Nyema Weli, told the House that the 2012 flood was caused by overflow of the River Niger through the Orashi River and not the outcome of rainfall in the areas.

Mr Weli said, under the circumstance, the State could not do much but to evacuate those affected, and suggested the dredging of River Niger and Orashi River to reduce the impact of the water.

On flooding in parts of Port Harcourt, the Commissioner attributed it to the attitude of residents who erect structures on natural waterways and dump refuse in drainages thereby obstructing the flow of water.

Mr Weli, who claimed to have visited the impacted communities, could not remember the name of any of such people he visited but admitted that the ministry did not comply with an earlier resolution of the House to fumigate the affected communities as part of the post-flood measures.

On her part, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, said for the 2013 precaution, the ministry had drawn up plans to handle enlightenment campaigns through the use of town criers.

Hon. Sam Eligwe, representing Ahoada-West, urged the Commissioner to be conscious of the kind of information to avoid causing panic among the people, noting that the seedlings and suckers claimed to have been distributed were rotting away at council headquarters.

He, therefore, enjoined the Commissioners for Special Duties and Environment to visit the camps with a view to retrieving government’s properties to avoid vandalisation.

The lawmaker came to the conclusion that the ministries should commence plans towards the heavy rains and flood as stated by NIMET to ensure that the effect would be minimal on the lives of those to be affected.

It would be recalled that the motion to prepare for the expected flooding in 2013 as predicted by NIMET was sponsored by Hon. Augustine Ngo, representing Abua/Odual.