NGO Advises Flood-prone Communities To Relocate

Soroptimist International (SI), an NGO, has urged people living along the lowland areas of Niger and Benue rivers to relocate to safe areas.
Chairperson of the organisation, Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa-Mbah, gave the advice in an interview with the newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra on Thursday.
Reports indicate  that the Niger and Benue rivers, which are the two major rivers in the country, receive all collection of water from the uplands of the country as well as the Atlantic Ocean.
Ezenwa-Mbah advised the affected communities to join their relations in upland areas.
She, however, criticised the federal and state governments for not living-up to their post-flood rehabilitation programmes.
“I think like the government has been telling them, the best is to relocate. It is just in this country we have short memory. We have short memories and we are short-sighted.
“I will tell them once beaten, twice shy. It would be very bad for them to stay there again and be caught-up.
“Somewhere in the East, I always know, some of them would have relations that are living in the uplands, why not relocate and join them; when the water go down, you can go back.
“On individual levels, they say God helps those who help themselves; so if governments have neglected them, I think it is high time they help themselves.
“Community chiefs should tell them to their face; look for your neighbours, look for your friends, look for your relations, who are living in the township and go and squat with them.
“When the rainy season is over, you come back.’’