The Rivers State Government says it has put in proactive measures to avert an impending flooding in the state.
The Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Barr. Kenneth Kobani disclosed this in Port Harcourt shortly after a stakeholders meeting on flooding in the state, which was attended by Chairmen of Local government Areas, LGAs and Permanent Secretaries of Ministries incharge of natural disaster emergency management among others.
The SSG said the meeting was to evolve strategies of managing the disaster and avert untold consequences, adding that sensitization campaign would be carried out across the state on the issue.
Kobani, warned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in water ways and canals which affect free flow of water in the drainages and other outlets.
He further disclosed that flood control committees would be set up in the flood-prone LGAs, as well as state Emergency Management Authority, which would supervise directly, matters relating to natural disasters.
He pointed out that the bodies would work in conjunction with relevant Ministries and agencies charged with the responsibility of managing flood disaster.
The SSG, also disclosed that the Rivers State Government will monitor the distribution of relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to avoid theft and diversion of the materials. He added that the Government will also check illegal dredging activities noting that defaulters will face the full wrath of the law.
Kobani restated the commitment of the state government to partner with relevant donor agencies such as Unital in the management of flood disasters.
The flood prone LGAs include; Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Abua/Odual, Degema, Asari Toru, Akuku Toru, Ahoada West, Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema/Ndoni LGAs.
It would be recalled that residents of most of these LGAs were displaced by a devastating flood few years ago.
Meanwhile, following imminent flood alert by the Nigerian Meterogical Agency (NiMET) the Rivers State government and local council authorities are currently synergizing and collaborating on how best to combat the devastating effects of the impending flood on lives, properties and farms.
While the state government team is headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Kenneth Kobani, the councils have their chairmen in the attendance with a view to averting the pitfalls witnessed during the 2006, 2007 and 2012 floods which devastated several communities with attendant hardship on the people.
The interface between the second and third tiers of government in the state, The Tide gathered was occasioned by the complaints by the councils that they did not have the financial capacity to handle such natural disasters.
Our Correspondents who visited Abua/Odual, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ahoada East and West councils interviewed the council chairmen and a cross-section of the people and the lamentations were virtually the same: lack of funds and infrastructural facilities to cater for the victims of the impending flood.
Issues bordering on relief materials such as food stuff, medicals, (drugs and personnel) shelter, security, water-borne diseases and financial constraints topped the agenda of the councils, most of which are relying on schools, churches and other public buildings to accommodate the victims of the impending flood.
The Tide investigations revealed that most councils have inaugurated flood management committees to oversee matters relating to the flood when it eventually surfaces.
In the four flood-prone local government areas of ONELGA, ABOLGA, AWELGA and AELGA, the committees have set out for work, sensitizing the locals on the imminent flood and the need to go for early harvest of crops to avoid total destruction.
ONELGA Chairman, Augustine Ahiamadu told The Tide that the council has commenced full sensitization of communities in the area to create awareness but appealed to the state government to bail out the council from the impending disaster as it does not have the financial muscle to battle the menace.
Ahiamadu explained that the three Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) centres located at Omoku, Egbema and Eerema will be used as camps for refugees of flood victims but appealed to the state government to release funds from the State Ecological fund to battle the menace. He also called for the dredging of Orashi and Sombriero Rivers to avert over-flow of the rivers to communities and farmlands.
The council boss contended that the way to avert the mistakes of the 2012 flood disaster was to ensure that adequate food items, security, medicals and shelter were in place to ameliorate the effect on the people.
His counterpart and Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Area, Oyiekuoto Isaac Ukwe said the council has braced up for the flood as the issues of shelter, poor sanitary condition of camps, insecurity, personnel, which were hallmarks of the 2012 flood had been addressed.
On sensitization of the people and communities prone to flood, the Chairmen stated that the council held several meetings with traditional rulers, chiefs, farmers, community leaders and the youth of 27 communities to create awareness and also set up a 12-member flood management committee to address the flood issue.
He said over 12 camps will be used to shelter victims of the flood in Abua/Odual noting that evacuation of victims will commence as soon as the council witnesses the flood.
The Tide visited the Ahoada East Local government area, and observed that construction work was on-going at a permanent site for Internally Displaced Persons which will also be used for flood victims.

Goodluck Ukwe/Taneh Beemene