Environment
Flood Claims Another Life In Rivers … As More Communities Are Submerged
Reports reaching The Tide Newspaper from Ula-Ubie Community in Ubie Kingdom of Ahoada West Local Government Area indicate that one of its sons has lost his life in the surging flood ravaging the area.
According to the report, the deceased known as Godstime Chibunna, a Senior Secondary School student reportedly drowned when their canoe capsized in the bush.
The report further said that his body has since been recovered and buried.
The death of Godstime Chibuna brings to four the number of deaths recorded so far due to the surging flood in the state.
It would be recalled that the Omoku Community in Ogba Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area had last week reported the death of three children.
The children were reported to have drowned while returning from the farm with their mothers.
Meanwhile, sources from Ubie Kingdom say the whole area is now engulfed by flood.
According to the source, the incident has led to the destruction of thousands of houses as well as farmlands.
The source listed worst affected communities to include; Ula-Ubie, Onubor, Odiereke-Ubie and Ikodu.
Other areas affected are Oshiobele, Olokuma, Ibuechi, Ebirib-I Ebiriba II Ihunkpo, Ubetu, Owrube and Ubarama.
Also affected are Ubio, Anwunugboko, Odioku, Odido, Odialugboko, Oyigba, Ogoada and Egbee.
Speaking in an interview with The Tide, the Eze Igbu Ubie of Ubie Kingdom of Ahoada West Local Government Area, HRM Eze Augustin Maxwell Okpokiri said his kingdom is completely devastated by the flood.
“My kingdom is more affected than any other communities. All the roads have been cut off. In fact Ubie kingdom with 21 towns and villages have been submerged by flood.”
Eze Okpokiri said over 50,000 persons have been displaced, while all farms including cassava, plantain, banana and yams are all gone.
He also said his people have now converted town halls to internally displaced persons camps and stressed the need for both governmental and non-governmental agencies to come to the aid of his people.
The monarch said the perennial nature of the flooding has underscored the need for government to look for solution to it.
“It doesn’t used to be like this. Now that it is coming every year, government should look for solution to it.
When contacted on phone, the South-South Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Brandon Walson confirmed that more communities are being engulfed by flood in Rivers State.
He also said the agency is finding it difficult to access some communities because of lack of assistance from local government councils.
The Lagos State Government has commenced installation of new pumps at the Iju Headworks and Akute water intake stations.
The Tide source reports that the project is aimed at increasing water production, improving operational efficiency and expanding access to potable water across the state.
A statement issued by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) over the weekend said the project was approved and funded by the state government.
It said the installation was part of the rehabilitation of the Iju Headworks and Akute Intake Station under Lots 1, 2 and 3.
According to LWC, the rehabilitation is designed to modernise water production facilities, strengthen operations and improve public water supply.
The Network of Female Professionals in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Nigeria (FEMinWASH) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) are set to partner on gender-responsive systems strengthening, capacity development and WASH initiatives.
The partnership was proposed during a courtesy visit by a FEMinWASH delegation, led by its President and Convener, Dr Boluwaji Onabolu, to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, in Abuja.
Onabolu, who conveyed greetings from FEMinWASH Patron, retired Engineer Ebele Okeke, commended Walson-Jack for upholding the Federal Civil Service’s EPIC values of Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-centred leadership.
She praised the HoCSF’s efforts in advancing gender inclusion in WASH and the civil service, including the development of the National Gender in Water Resources Mainstreaming Policy and mentoring programmes for women leaders.
Onabolu also highlighted the INSPIRE (Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women) programme, aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and inclusion.
She said FEMinWASH was seeking a formal partnership and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the OHCSF to support INSPIRE, WASH advocacy, capacity building and the institutionalisation of Gender-Responsive Budgeting across the Federal Civil Service.
Responding, Walson-Jack commended the diverse expertise of the FEMinWASH delegation, noting that professionals in WASH, water resources, environment, public health, town planning and education were critical to addressing development challenges.
She welcomed the proposed partnership, assuring that the OHCSF was ready to collaborate with FEMinWASH on civil service strengthening and WASH-related initiatives.
The meeting agreed to further engagements with Dr Garba, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), and Ms Funke Baruwa, Lead for Partnerships at the OHCSF, to advance the collaboration.
The visit ended with a photo session and exchange of gifts between both parties.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, commended the community on the massive turn-out for sanitation.
He also appreciated the chairman and his team for their support to the ministry.
Rotimi-Akodu urged the community to continue to support the council and by extension, the government, by participating in the exercise and engaging in proper disposal of wastes.
“We have heard your appeal, and I assure you that Lagos government will do something about it.
“Although we have PSP operators in this axis, maybe they were assigned to other areas.
“However, I will ensure something is done and residents will observe the improvement.” the advisor said.
Also, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LASMA), Mr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said that waste management was a collective exercise.
Gbadegbesin, therefore, appealed to the residents to always dispose of their wastes properly.
“You must bag your waste at home. Make sure you have a bin to keep the waste for few days, even if there is a delay by the PSP operator.
“Make sure you pay your PSP operator on time because there is no way they can provide that service if you are not paying them regularly.
The Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Go Green Nigeria Foundation, , has called for more stringent government efforts toward prohibition of illegal sand mining in Rivers, following erosion threats.
The founder of NGO Dr John Babington made the call on last Monday in Umuechem, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers, to commemorate the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems.
Babington, who sensitised the community on dangers associated with crude sand mining, donated some trees as part of efforts to promote tree planting and revitalisation of the altered mangrove ecosystem.
During an interactive session with the community, the environmental expert identified various concerns and commended residents for their willingness to work together to end the excavation.
He, however, dismissed the notion that illegal sand mining was due to poverty and unemployment, saying, ”the business is a capital intensive venture that could only be operated by a rich cartel.”
He said that though the business might have provided menial jobs for few youths, it had not in any manner addressed poverty.
Presently, the landscape is altered with an artificial river encroaching a major access road and threatening public safety,” he said.
Also speaking, a senior Chief in the community, Chief Gilbert Otamiri commended the NGO for the initiative and promised to collaborate with them.
Gilbert, however, urged the government to tackle unemployment which, he said, was a major promoter of the illegal excavation
Also speaking, The Community Development Chairman (CDC) Mr Agbam Mgbechi thanked the group for the sensitisation and donation of trees.
He called on the government and concerned induviduals to emulate the group by making efforts towards salvaging the area from further environmental damage.
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