Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, has appealed to the Federal Government to help evacuate the lives and properties of people in flooded areas in the Southern region, especially in Abia, Imo and Anambra States.
This comes as recent flood disasters in Ariaria International Market Aba, Ohaji-Egbema in Imo and Oguta local government area in Anambra State, destroyed properties worth billions of naira.
The Secretary-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday.
He said; “We wish to ask, does it mean that the clips coming out from the ancient town of Anam Ukpo Isaa with villages like Mmiata, Iyiora,Umueze, Umuewelum, Umuobia, Umuikwu, Umudora, and Oroma-Etiti are now sitting under flood is not getting to both the Presidency and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).’’
“Is Nigeria too broke that we cannot send serious boats and even airlift the trapped people of Ogwuikpele, Akali-Ogidi, Atani, Osamala, Umu-uzu, Ogbakuba, Umunankwo, and Ogwuaniocha all in Ogbaru Local government area and send relief materials to them because they are currently internally displaced people?
“Can’t the federal and state governments do something for the people of Abacheke in Ohaji-Egbema? Can’t government and NEMA do something about what’s happening at Oguta-Ameshi down to the Amaraocha area,” he queried.
“Can’t they just see that communities like Osemotto, Eziorsu, Orsuobodo, Mgbele, and their neighbors may not be safe now and find fast solutions? How can the government be sleeping while our people are perishing?
“What about those people that died at Osomals/Umunankwo bridge while sailing to Ogbakuba last werk in Ogbaru when their boat capsized and who have located their families? Why all those silence when a national disaster is taking place.”
“They should find solutions because people cannot continue to invest and lose their investments every three years to flood. We have heard from different quarters that what happened could be linked to the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon”.
“Every solution is necessary now. If it requires tbe dredging of notable Rivers in the affected areas like Orashi Rivers in the affected areas like Orashi River, Ogbuide river (Oguta lake), Omambala (Anambra Rivers), Ezu River, Itu River, Awbana river, Njaba river, River Niger and many others. Every time such may happen, please let it be done at least to reduce the effect”.