(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/coat-of-arms21.gif) Government agencies and stakeholders saddled with the responsibilities of managing disaster in Rivers State are not taking the forecast of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), that the country is likely to experience increased rainfall this year, lightly.
It is on this strength that the Rivers State Government has constituted a special committee in the State Emergency Management Agency to combat possible flooding. The committee chaired by the Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru is to assess the flood prone areas in the State and make necessary recommendations.
The Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru who is the Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agencies said, the State had already braced up to the challenges ahead by building resilience to disaster to mitigate their impacts on the people.
He said, Government is carrying out a comprehensive dredging and de-silting of quite a number of streams and rivers across Port Harcourt to make for free flow of waters.
Ikuru pointed at the popular Nwaja creek along Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout and Ngboaba Creek along NTA road are being worked on. Apart from these two, there are many other canals being built in Port Harcourt and its environs. These projects were aimed at erosion and flood control.
The Deputy Governor commended the media on the wide coverage given to last year's flood in the State, adding that their reports elicited sympathy and support for both the victims and Government.
Ikuru urged communication practitioners in the State to develop and sustain an effective synergy and collaboration with Government, so as to enhance an efficient disaster management system.
A Government official, who did not want his name in print, said, "Anybody who is familiar with the landscape of Rivers State would understand what it means to take up dredging and de-silting of its extensive network of streams, rivers and tributaries, serious. That notwithstanding, he said, the Amaechi Government has been trying its best to control flooding. The dredging and de-silting project have covered streams and rivers extending over large areas, including the Greater Port Harcourt City.
The Federal Government is also involved in this area of protecting Rivers People from flood. This is done through the canalization of Okari/Koro and Ikuru Town shoreline protection which is at various stages of completion.
The effect of all these dredging, de-silting and canalization activities has been the safety of lives and properties of the people of Rivers State from the type of devastation by flooding that took place last year.
New sites for camping flood victims are being built with better facilities like pipe borne water, schools, health centres etc. With the completion of these new camp sites, people relocated from the ecological disaster-prone coastal communities like Ndoni, Omoku and Ahoada East, will certainly have their burdens reduced.
The Government of Rivers State has also collaborated with the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in the area of effective and efficient land administration, which include geo-spatial data for effective and efficient land titling and administration, establishment of a one-stop-shop on land titling and registration and development of a frame work for operationalizing it. The overall result of these schemes is proper planning and utilization of land to check flooding.
National Emergency Management Agency officials (NEMA), who spoke to Federal Information Centre, Port Harcourt, on this issue on grounds of anonymity, said, "NEMA is fully prepared for any eventuality. This is seen in the improved budgetary allocation to the sector. Efforts are being made to collaborate with other stakeholders like the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), National Inland Waterways Agency (NIWA), and other local boats bodies (LBB), for effective management of any disaster in the State.
One Mr. Mark, responding to the effect of flood last year on people that resulted in loss of lives, destruction of property, infrastructure worth several billions of naira and displacement of a large number of communities across the State said "We have learnt our lesson, we are prepared, the Government is prepared, we are taking the alert from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) very seriously. We shall beat the flood to its games."
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria
Flooding can be really bad when it comes with full force so prevention must take place else it'll be very bad.