Residents of several communities in Imo State, Nigeria, are reeling from the devastating impact of torrential rainfall and flooding that has left many stranded. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced rescue operations, relocating residents trapped in flooded areas to safer, higher grounds. According to a senior rescue official with the NEMA office in Imo State, Innocent Nweze, the agency has been actively responding to the crisis since Sunday.
The flooding, which has affected parts of Owerri and neighbouring communities, has disrupted transportation and forced some residents to remain indoors. Nweze revealed that residents of Amakaohia and Akwakuma, among other communities around Rochas Market, had been rescued. He urged residents living in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer locations and avoid actions that could increase their vulnerability. The agency has also distributed relief materials to victims of a windstorm in Umuori and Ekemegbuoha communities in Owerri North Local Government Area.
The impact of the flooding on residents has been severe, with many still counting their losses. Residents of Emeabiam, FUTO, Eziobodo, Ihiagwa, Umuguma, Ohaozara, Amakaohia, World Bank, Federal Housing, Works Layout, and New Owerri are among those affected. A resident of Umuguma and commercial bus driver, Michael Okere, said the flooding had drastically reduced the number of vehicles operating on the affected routes, leading to a sharp increase in transport fares.
The surge in transport fares has caused significant hardship for commuters, who are being forced to spend a substantial part of their income on transportation to avoid being absent from work. A civil servant, Mrs Nnadi, said she paid N1,500 from World Bank Junction to Umuguma Junction, a far cry from the usual fare. She expressed concern that she may have to skip work if the rain continues, highlighting the dire impact on daily life.
A secondary school student was seen appealing to a commercial bus driver to accept the old fare, saying that was the amount his parents had given him. Meanwhile, Ezirim Ernest, a resident of Umuguma, lamented the impact of the flooding on human and vehicular movement, saying he had not left his house since Thursday. He questioned why the road leading to the local government headquarters had remained in poor condition for years.
The poor condition of the road has been a long-standing issue, with Ernest recalling that two lives were lost on that road two years ago. He appealed to the Imo State Government to intervene and review the work being done by the contractor on the road. The contractor has been working on the road for four months, but progress has been slow.
As the situation continues to unfold, efforts to obtain the reaction of the state Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, on the government’s plans to address the situation were unsuccessful. The flooding has also submerged parts of the popular Okigwe Road and Wethral Road, with poor drainage contributing to the crisis.
Key points
- The National Emergency Management Agency has commenced rescue operations for stranded residents in Imo State.
- The flooding has disrupted transportation, forcing some residents to remain indoors.
- Transport fares have skyrocketed due to the reduced number of vehicles operating on affected routes.
