News
Three Feared Dead As Flood Displaces Over 200,000 In Rivers
Three persons are feared dead while over 200,000 have reportedly been displaced by a rampaging flood in four local government areas of Rivers State.
The four local government areas, according to investigation, are; Abua/Odual, Ahoada West, Ahoada East and Ogba/Ebema/Ndoni.
Investigation also revealed that the flood also destroyed properties worth billions of naira, including farm lands, houses and other properties.
The Tide also learnt that some of the few internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps, particularly the ones in Mbiama, Akinima and Joinkrama 1 and 11 are already over-stretched with a large number of displaced residents.
According to investigations, communities affected by the flood in Ahoada West are; Mbiama, Joinkrama 1 and 11, Ogbogolo, Akinima and Akianiso.
The rest are; Igovia, Ikodi,Ususu, Isua, Odau and Edagberi.
Similarly, some communities in Ekpeye section of the local government, which include, Ikodu Ekpeye, Olokuma, Odiereke, Ubie Ubeta, Ula, Ubie and Ebiriba 1 and 11, are also affected.
In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, the entire Ndoni district is now reported to be under water.
Some communities affected in the district are Ndoni Main Town, Asi Azaga, Otikiri Isukwa, and Agwe, while in Ogba district of the LGA, residents of the entire Usomini and parts of Egi clans have been ravaged by the flood.
Communities affected in the area are, Oboburu, Obagi, Idu Osobile, Idu Obosiukwu, and Ohali.
The rest are, Obohia, Obakata, Okposi, Ugbe Uguta, Obrikom, and Umuchikere.
A resident of Idu Osobile, Ezeukwu Joeza told The Tide that his people now sleep on roof tops.
He said the incident has affected communication and movement of persons in the community.
According to him, movement from one corner of the community to the other is now done with canoe.
A resident of Mbiama, Mr. Ogbam Orugba told The Tide that he has lost all his farm lands to the flood.
Orugba said the IDP camps in the area are already congested, stressing that the camps need mosquito nets, water and food.
Speaking, Mrs Jack Miller said that women were the worst affected because they lost all their farmlands to the flood.
She said that farmers in the area were now engaged in premature harvesting of cassava.
“The women are the worst affected because they lost all their cassava to the flood” she added.
Also speaking to The Tide at Ndoni, the Onueze of Ndoni, Chief John Ugboma Obi likened the flood to that of 2012, stressing that the entire Ndoni clan has been submerged by the flood.
Reacting to the incident, the Secretary of Omoku City Council of Traditional Rulers, Chief Martins Olowu, said over 3,000 persons in Usomini clan and Omoku were now internally displaced.
According to him, 10 communities have been completely submerged by flood while 3,000 persons are now refugees in their homelands.
He also put the clan’s loses at hundreds of millions of naira.
Also reacting, the Engenni Eminent Persons Forum lamented the level of destruction caused by perennial flooding in the area.
The Chairman of the forum, Dr. Harvey Warman, told The Tide in an interview that the whole Engenni Kingdom was gone.
He also said the situation has brought untold hardship to his people.
Warman called for the dredging of the Orashi River as well as the construction of shore protection round communities in the area.
In his remarks, the Eze Egi of Ogbaland, Prof Anele Uzondu Wokoma, called for relief materials for the people.
When contacted, the South-South Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Brandon Walson, described the incident as one of the worst in the area.
He said the roads leading to some of the affected communities have been cut off by the surging water, and called on the government to come to their rescue.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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