Environment
2022 Flood Disaster: Ndonis Count Losses
Some indigenes of Ndoni Community in Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State are still counting their losses from the devastating flood that ravaged the community last year.
A cross section of the people who spoke to The Tide in an interview in the community put their losses at millions of naira.
They said the flood destroyed their properties, including their farmlands and other sources of livelihood.
According to them, the situation also worsened the level of malaria infestation in the area.
Speaking with The Tide, Mrs Rose Umeze said she lost all her property to the flood, because “the water was everywhere in the community”.
In her words, “the flood was everywhere, everything we suffered for was destroyed. No food, nothing came out”, adding that the community was taken unawares by the level of destruction caused by the incident.
Also speaking, another resident, Ifeanyi Obueze, said lives were lost during the flood.
“Everything got spoilt in the last two years. They said this year it will come again”, he stated.
He said the people are now living in fear as water level in rivers around the area are rising.
“The rivers are already filling up again, where the water used to come from is already filled up, so, we are ready and expecting”, he said.
Obieze said the community is already helpless as the flood now comes every year.
“What can we do? The flood is still disturbing the community in terms of food, and there’s nothing to talk about because everything will get spoilt again, no palliative, last year as both plants and food perished.
“They said they were going to bring something but up till now, nothing, we didn’t see anything.
“I wont lie to you, so many elderly persons and young people died because of the flood everywhere. No hospital to take care of them, no drugs , nothing, and we can’t go out , we can’t go to Omoku to get treatment because the road was blocked, filled with flood”, he lamented.
Another respondent said the situation is posing a big challenge to the community.
“That is the challenge we have. During the time of flood, you can’t move and everywhere was filled with mosquitoes, we don’t have water because the pure water people cannot bring it.
She urged the authorities to find a permanent solution to the problem.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday, launched an awareness campaign, aimed at educating residents on the increasing impact of climate change.
The campaign also seeks to enlighten residents on the urgent need for personal and community protection measures.
During the launch in Uyo on Thursday, the Akwa Ibom Director of NOA, Mr Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, said that the campaign aims at enlightening residents, about the changes in weather patterns.
He said that this includes unpredictable rise in temperatures, and how these changes threaten public health across the state.
Mkpoutom noted that the current weather was not harmattan, but an extreme form of air pollution, which is harmful to health as it could cause oxidative stress which affects body balance.
“Our environment is changing rapidly, and the effects are evident in the disruptions faced by our communities.
“It is paramount that every citizen of Akwa Ibom understands these changes and take necessary steps to protect themselves, their families, and their livelihoods,” he said.
He appealed to citizens to take the following precautions which include wearing of nose mask, drinking sufficient water, covering of food and water to keep away dust, washing fruits thoroughly before eating, among others.
He directed all NOA structures within the state to engage with local communities through town hall meetings and collaboration.
He also urged engagement with schools and community leaders, to disseminate vital information on early warning signs, as well as safety protocols during extreme weather conditions.
The Chairman of Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Ms Surah Animashaun, has urged traders of Aiyetoro and Oluwo fish markets to consistently ensure a hygienic trading environment.
She urged the traders to maintain cleanliness and observe proper environmental sanitation in the markets.
Animashaun said this during a visit to some of the market areas in Epe on Saturday.
She said that clean markets were critical to public health.According to her, poor sanitation could lead to the outbreak of communicable diseases, especially in fish markets, where waste management must be handled with extra care.
The council chairman urged traders to dispose of refuse appropriately, avoid indiscriminate dumping of waste, and ensure regular cleaning of stalls and surroundings
She noted that environmental hygiene is a collective responsibility, adding that everyone should be involved in this development.
Animashaun also warned that the local government would not hesitate to enforce existing environmental laws, including sanctions against defaulters.
She assured traders of the council’s commitment to providing adequate waste disposal facilities and regular monitoring to sustain a clean and healthy market environment.
The council boss also urged traders to desist from selling by the roadside, so as to avoid accidents, noting that several motor accidents had occurred along the Aiyetoro market area.
“We, therefore, urge traders to stop selling on the roadside,” she said.
President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mrs Margaret Oguntala, has inaugurated the construction of 18 units residential terrace in highbrow Alausa area of Lagos toward bridging the nation’s shelter gap.
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