Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan
By Sunday Okobi
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Monday called on the Federal Government, the private sector, as well as Nigerians with kind hearts to urgently come to the rescue of the state as flood continues to submerge more communities in the state.
Speaking in Asaba while reviewing the damage caused so far by the flooding, the governor said the scope of the damage caused by the flood was far beyond the capacity of the state.
According to him, “the situation on ground was grave and grim with over 100 communities in no less than 10 local government areas of the state impacted seriously.”
The local government areas affected by the flood include Patani, Isoko South, Isoko North, Ndokwa East, Bomadi, Burutu, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Ughelli North and Ughelli South.
In particular, Uduaghan said the River Niger had over flown its bank in an average distance of between six kilometres and 10 kilometres in the affected communities, stressing that the tide was increasing by the day.
‘’Within a period of three days, the number of communities affected increased astronomically and for now there is fear of total flooding of the affected communities.
“Devastating and a huge challenge,” he said, adding that most of the rehabilitation camps were already recording about 100,000 displaced persons as “mattresses, food items and medical facilities were being arranged for the victims in the interim.”
He therefore called on the Federal Government, corporate organisation, non-governmental organisation and Nigerians to partner his administration in bringing succour to the victims.
The governor who lamented that two persons had died as a result of the flood added that the committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, to tackle the challenges of the flood, was working round the clock to ensure that no more life was lost.
Meanwhile, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) expressed its appreciation to all persons and organisations that have visited the various re-settlement camps in the state to provide material, financial and moral support to victims of the devastation occasioned by the current upsurge of the River Niger.