Rivers PDP Wants Sustainable Efforts Towards Tackling Perennial Flooding

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State under the Chairmanship of Amb. Desmond Akawor, has extended its heartfelt condolences to victims of the devastating flooding, especially in the coastal states of Nigeria; and more particularly, those along the tributaries of River Niger (and Benue).
The party said this in a statement signed by the Special Assistant (New Media) to Rivers State PDP Chairman, Barrister Ojukwu Stephen, in Port Harcourt, last Monday.
The statement read, “We acknowledge the need for government to do more. Accordingly, we use the opportunity to call on the Federal Government and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to redouble efforts toward providing relief and assistance to victims.
“No Nigerian should be displaced by flood or cut off from communication or have properties (cumulatively) worth millions submerged by water; particularly as we are in the know that the Government of Cameroon and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have a mutual agreement on the release of water from selected dams, ensuring Nigeria is better prepared for situations as these.
“We commend relief efforts, so far put in place, by the pragmatic government of Rivers State led by Chief Nyesom Wike; and we join the National Assembly to demand a supplementary budget by the father of the nation, President Muhammadu Buhari, to tackle this difficulty.
“Also important is our call on the Federal Government to confer a special status on Rivers State and allocate needed resources to tackle the much-needed environmental challenges the state, including large-scale oil pollution, flooding, oil spill, and bunkering flares attributed to military operations.
“While the government takes the needed action, our thought and prayers are with the victims of the flood disaster in the state”.