Ogbaru Community Cry Out to FG for Permanent Solution to Perennial Flooding

Residents of Akiliozizor community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State are calling on the federal government to provide a lasting solution to the recurring flood disasters that have been ravaging their area.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday, Okwudili Oduah, President-General of the community, commended the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for conducting a recent flood emergency simulation exercise in the community.

However, he emphasized that the challenges faced by people in flood-prone areas go beyond temporary relief measures.

According to Oduah, the community has been suffering from annual floods since 2012, which have displaced households and destroyed infrastructure. He noted that the current approach of setting up Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps is not a preferred option for most residents, as men often stay behind to protect their property from vandalism, leaving women, children, and the vulnerable in the camps.

“We are not just talking about relocating to camps and receiving food and mattresses. Every flood leaves us poorer. We relocate our families, rebuild our homes yearly, and the roads collapse without repair,” Oduah said.

The community leader appealed to the federal government to consider building a dam as a long-term measure to control floodwaters, rather than relying on emergency responses to flooding.

He also suggested that the government adopt best practices from other flood-prone countries, including constructing dams and dredging the River Niger to increase its water-carrying capacity.

Many houses that used to be on the bank of River Niger in Akiliozizor and other Ogbaru communities have been washed away, leaving many residents without proper shelter. Some are now living in shanties, while others are squatting with relatives because acquiring new land is expensive.

Ogbaru was one of the areas in Anambra State that suffered from a devastating flood in November last year, with several communities submerged.

The community is hoping that the federal government will take their plea seriously and provide a permanent solution to the recurring flood disasters.

“We are pleading with the federal government, through NEMA, to come up with a more sustainable and long-term solution,” Oduah said. “We need a solution that will put an end to our suffering and allow us to live in peace.”