Following cases of flooding in parts of the country, the Rivers State Government has expressed its readiness to tackle floods in the State.
State Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Samuel Eyiba, revealed this while addressing members of the socio-cultural group, Orashi National Congress and the apex socio-cultural organisation in Ekpeye land, the Uzugbani Ekpeye Worldwide, during separate courtesy calls on him , in his office, in Port-Harcourt, at the weekend.
Eyiba, who lamented the negative impact of the 2023 flooding on some families in the State, particularly in the Orashi region, said they are yet to recover from the loss, assuring however that the Governor Fubara-led administration would not allow any part of the State to suffer another disaster due to flooding.
Eyiba disclosed that plans were in top gear by the Ministry to synergise with other Ministries and relevant agencies to move residents to safer places as part of measures to mitigate the impact of the forecast flood.
Earlier in his speech, the President General, Orashi National Congress, Emeni Ibe, lauded the Commissioner for the proactive steps taken on issues of flooding, particularly in the Orashi area while also expressing appreciation to Governor Fubara for sponsoring the body’s recent visit to Abuja.
Ibe further solicited support from the Commissioner in the association’s forthcoming campaign on peace, unity and security across the four local government areas of the region, which he said was geared towards the development of the people of his ethnic extraction.
Also speaking, the President General of Uzugbani Ekpeye Worldwide, and retired cardiologist, Dr Ukechukwu Michael Nyemenem, stressed the need for the establishment of permanent refuge camps for evacuated persons from flood affected areas and called on those involved in mapping the flood-prone areas to be timely to nip in the bud the perennial problem of flooding in the axis.
Promising to bring to bear his experience and expertise as a medical doctor, Nyemenem pledged the commitment and collaboration of other stakeholders in the Orashi region with the state government in curbing the menace of flooding.
He expressed optimism that the Commissioner, Samuel Eyiba, being an Orashi son, would make the area proud by championing actions that would improve the environment of the Orashi region in particular and Rivers State in general.
Highlight of the visit was the presentation of a certificate of patron to the commissioner by the Orashi National Congress.
In another development, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Development, Samuel Eyiba, said the State government, through its regulatory agency, would clamp down on quacks in the state’s water sector.
Eyiba issued the warning when the leadership of the Hygienic Water Producers Association of Nigeria(HWAPAN), Rivers State Chapter, visited him in his office in Port Harcourt.
While noting that the activities and production of some water producers were below the Ministry’s standard, he maintained that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the health and safety of its residents, insisting that it would not relent in sanctioning any producer that would not meet the required standards.
Earlier, the State HWAPAN Chairman, EgbiriOderi, sated that the visit was to familiarize with the Commissioner and pledged his association’s support to work cooperatively with the ministry as partners in progress.
Oderi further disclosed plans to increase the price of sachet water in the State resulting from the high cost of production.