Residents displaced as flood submerges over 50 houses in Ughelli

Residents of parts of Ughelli, headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State were displaced on Sunday as flood submerged well over 50 residential houses in the area.

Our reporter gathered that the heavy rainfall started early Friday around Up-Agbarho Street, Omoyibo Street around Zion City school, Ighagbomi, St Mathias Anglican Church Road, Makolomi, Onogharigho.

Some houses along the East-West Road, Samuel Oteri Street, Pipeline area, Second Amekpa, Ekrejebo, Oteri New Layout, Ekiugbo New Layout, Uloho Avenue axis and other parts of the Ughelli metropolis were also affected.

Thousands of residents were sacked from their homes with properties worth millions of naira including credentials and certificates were destroyed by the flood.

Many residents were reported fleeing their homes for fear of being trapped by the flood, just as some residents could not evacuate their cars from the streets, after been submerged.

A resident of Omoyibo Street, Chief Godwin Ighoavwota, lamented the development, saying several persons have been rendered homeless and properties worth millions of naira destroyed by the flood.

Ighoavwota disclosed that the natural water channels and drainages in the area had been blocked and called on the federal, state governments and relevant agencies to open up the blocked water channels and drainages.

He further blamed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for building roads and drainages in the area without proper channels to take out water from the area.

The Vicar of St Mathias Anglican Church, UK Street, off Up-Agbarho Street, Revd Festus Azikiwe, said some houses in the area and the road leading to the church were submerged by the flood, calling on the government to come to their rescue.

Another resident of Omoyibo Street, Mrs Vivian Blessing, said: “I am short of words; the flood situation is unbearable. As you can see, flood water has taken over our compound, any more rainfall, the water will enter our apartments. I suggest that the residents and the government should work together to find a lasting solution to this problem.”

A resident of Ighagbomi street, Mr John Okeoghene, said: “The overwhelming flood is caused by lack of proper drainage and emptying of dirt into the water channels. I call on the government to intervene by constructing a wide drainage system.”

Yet another resident of the Pipeline area, Mrs Kevwe Ejovwoke said: “The water is much and healthwise is not good for the residents. This water needs a proper channel and unless something is done about it, it will only get worse.”

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Chris Onogba, who spoke to journalists, promised to visit the affected areas to assess the extent of damage caused by the flood with a view to intervening.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents

In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.