
The Federal Government’s dredge of the heavily silted Orashi River, which has been identified as a major cause of repeated floods in at least four local government areas, is a need for the state’s Rivers State Flood Prevention and Management Committee.
Prof. Ngozi Odu, the committee’s chairman and Deputy Governor of Rivers State, made the appeal during a press briefing at the Government House in Port Harcourt, where she also disclosed that the committee’s full operations were resumed following the opening of its intervention fund account.
She explained that during the transition from emergency to democratic governance, the account had been temporarily frozen.
The committee, which was established during the time of crisis and was previously led by the then-Secretary to the State Government (SSG), is now led by Prof. Odu, who is currently the SSG’s vice chairman.
One of its three operational stages, which includes advocacy/prevention, mitigation, and post-flood intervention, is now in its mitigation phase, according to Prof. Odu, who reactivated the committee about five weeks ago.
She disclosed that meetings have already been held with leaders of the region’s most prone to flooding, including Ahoada West, Ahoada East, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA), and parts of Abua/Odual.
Prof. Odu announced the committee’s next steps, stating that members would travel to flood-affected communities to meet with victims and begin distributing aid to residents both in their homes and internally displaced.
She added that the previous committee already used about 80% of the intervention funds for important projects like the removal of IDP camps, the installation of boreholes, and the purchase of non-perishable relief supplies that are currently housed in the Pathfinder barracks of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS).
The committee would work with local government chairmen to ensure an equitable distribution of relief items, particularly to those who choose to stay in their communities rather than relocate to IDP camps, according to the Deputy Governor.
In terms of urban flooding, Prof. Odu noted that the majority of flash floods in Port Harcourt and other cities were brought on by refuse dumps and building construction along water channels.
She emphasized that residents as well as the Federal, State, and Local Governments must be held accountable for their actions.
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She claimed that all LGAs have been mandated to establish 13-man flood control committees to oversee tasks like clogged drains, repairs to culverts, and community sanitation in order to promote local response.
Additionally, Prof. Odu made it known that the Head of Service and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who serves as the committee’s vice chairman, will send a delegation to visit the family that recently lost two children in a flood-related incident, to offer condolences and offer support.
The Deputy Governor led the committee’s and journalists through an inspection of the relief materials in preparation for immediate distribution to the affected communities following the briefing.





