The Rivers State Flood Management Committee has
resumed full operations following the reopening of its intervention fund
account, which had been frozen during the transition from emergency
administration to democratic governance.
Chairman of the committee and Deputy Governor of the
state, Prof. Ngozi Odu, made the announcement during a press briefing at
the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Saturday. She appealed for cooperation
from residents, local authorities, and relevant stakeholders to ensure an
effective response to this year’s flood challenges.
Prof. Odu explained that the committee—originally
established during the emergency period and previously chaired by the then
Secretary to the State Government (SSG)—is now in its mitigation phase,
one of its three operational stages: advocacy/prevention, mitigation, and
post-flood intervention.
“The committee was reactivated about five weeks ago by
His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara,” she said. “We have since held
engagements with leaders of the most flood-prone local government areas,
including Ahoada West, Ahoada East, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA), and parts of
Abua/Odual.”
She disclosed that members of the committee would soon
embark on visits to flood-affected communities to engage with victims and begin
the distribution of relief materials to both Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) and residents who chose to remain in their homes.
According to Prof. Odu, about 80 percent of the
intervention funds had already been utilized by the previous committee for
critical activities such as rehabilitation of IDP camps, installation of
boreholes, and procurement of non-perishable relief items currently stored at
the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder Barracks.
She noted that the committee would collaborate with
local government chairmen to ensure transparent and equitable distribution
of relief materials, particularly to households outside the IDP camps.
On the issue of urban flooding in Port Harcourt and
other cities, the Deputy Governor attributed most incidents to blocked
drainage systems, indiscriminate dumping of refuse, and illegal
construction along water channels.
“Flood management is a shared responsibility involving
the Federal, State, and Local Governments, as well as residents,” she
emphasized.
To strengthen local preparedness, she announced that
each local government area had been directed to establish 13-member flood
control committees responsible for clearing drains, repairing culverts, and
improving community sanitation.
Prof. Odu also revealed that the Secretary to the
State Government—who serves as Vice Chairman of the flood committee—and the
Head of Service would visit the family of two children who recently died
in a flood-related incident to deliver a formal condolence message and offer
support.
Following the briefing, the Deputy Governor led
committee members and journalists on an inspection of relief materials ahead of
immediate deployment to affected areas across the state.
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