Residents of no fewer than 600 houses located in flood-prone communities across Anambra State have been displaced as their buildings were submerged following the rising water level from the River Niger and other related activities.
Our correspondent gathered that communities in five Local Government Areas of the state are currently affected by the flood and they include Anambra West, Anambra East, Ogbaru, Awka North and Ayamelum.
In the Mmiata-Anam community, Anambra West LGA, visited by our correspondent on Thursday, some of the residents, including children, who were yet to evacuate from their houses, were seen wading through waters to access their various destinations, with the waters covering roads, houses, markets, churches, schools, and other private and public facilities.
A resident identified as Nneka Chimaobi narrated how the residents now paddle or ride on wooden canoes to their destinations, as major parts of the community and the local government area have been flooded.
She said, “The flood started surfacing a few days ago in our community and within a short time, it circulated everywhere in the community, covering our roads, houses, markets, churches, schools and every other open space.
“Most people have evacuated from their houses as most of them have become inaccessible due to the flood waters. The few people still around are mostly farmers who are arranging their belongings, especially farm produce and keeping them in a safer position.
“This is because when we experienced this type of incident last year, people were caught unawares and they fled, but when they came back after the flood had receded, their belongings had disappeared. The farmers did not find their farm produce.
“I am a teacher; since floods have covered the schools in the community, the authorities have announced a temporary suspension of activities till further notice. And this has enabled us to start evacuating to the upper ground. Today, some of us will be moving to one of the IDP camps designated by the state government.”
One of the videos currently circulating on social media also shows the Deputy Chairman of the Anambra West Local Government Area, Mrs Edith Ndive, riding on a wooden canoe to her house.
PUNCH Metro recalls that in 2023, over 40 people reportedly died in a boat crash along the Mmiata-Anam river, when their boat hit a bridge and capsised.
The boat hit the bridge as a result of the rising water level of the river. The victims were mostly women and children who were escaping to a safer ground.
When contacted, on Thursday, the Commissioner for Environment, Felix Odimegwu, said the state government and relevant authorities were aware of the situation and were already providing necessary interventions.
Odimegwu said the water level had risen in the past weeks, noting that the situation was being monitored.
He said, “The Anambra State Government Flood Management Team with personnel from NEMA, SEMA, International Organisation for Migration and the Red Cross Society are moving round collecting data of the situation at the Internally-Displaced Persons camps.
“The state government has provided some of interventions and relief materials to the people, with over 27 camps so far activated.
“No fewer than five local government areas have so far been affected by the flood, including Anambra West, Anambra East, Ogbaru, Awka North, and Ayamelum.”
According to him, the state government is better prepared for the flood, adding that the ministry and the entire Flood Management Team have been issuing early warning signals almost every two days showing the water level as it was rising.
The commissioner said the state received relief materials, including about 2,400 cartons of food items from the Bank of Industry, adding that the food items comprised noodles, vegetable oil, Semovita, flour, salt and sugar.
