Residents cry out as flood hits Anambra

Many houses and farmlands located in flood-prone communities of Ogidi in the Idemili North Local Government Area and Ifite-Awka in Awka South LGA of Anambra State have been submerged by flood following persistent rainfall in the communities.

Our correspondent, who visited the affected communities on Tuesday, reports that the rainfall which occurred on Sunday and Monday had left many families stranded, seeking refuge in the upland areas, where they are calling for the state government’s intervention.

The affected residents said the perennial flooding has continued to disrupt daily life, damage property, and stall economic activities in the area.

Their plight has drawn concern from youths, traditional leadership and community stakeholders who describe the impact as “increasingly severe.”

South-East Punch reports that the disaster pulled down the headquarters of a Pentecostal church and other structures, just as it also destroyed goods and documents.

Some residents and property owners along St. John Street in Ifite-Awka were seen evacuating damaged property and other valuables destroyed by the flood, while residents of Ogidi who also suffered a similar fate were seen scooping waters from their houses and business premises.

Some residents who spoke to South-East Punch in separate interviews blamed the flooding on poor town planning, indiscriminate building construction, and inadequate supervision of property development by the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority.

According to them, weak enforcement of building regulations allowed developers to erect structures on natural waterways, thereby obstructing the free flow of water during the rainy season.

The District Head, Foursquare Gospel Church in Ifite-Awka, Rev. Sam Ufo, regretted that the church was among the worst-hit structures, with the church premises and auditorium submerged by the flood.

Ufo said, “Items destroyed by the flood include musical instruments such as pianos, amplifiers, and other electronic equipment, in addition to church documents and official records. Although the church had experienced flooding in the past, the magnitude of Sunday night’s disaster was unprecedented since the church moved into this area.

“Some residents erected structures on waterways originally designed to channel floodwater into a nearby canal and the situation had continued to trigger perennial flooding here.

“The church was among the earliest occupiers of this neighbourhood and had complied with approved building plans and drainage designs. Unfortunately, subsequent developments by other property owners have worsened the flood situation. We never envisaged this kind of flood challenge.

“We raised and reinforced our fences to prevent floodwater from entering the compound. Unfortunately, the rainfall on Sunday night pulled down our fences and even those of our neighbours, the Redeemed Christian Mission, forcing massive floodwater into our premises.

“We have identified that the major cause of the perennial flooding is the blockage of the drainage channel that conveys floodwater into a nearby canal. Some developers acquired the waterways, blocked them, and built structures on them.”

Ufo appealed to both the state and local government authorities to intervene by recovering the original waterways that channel water into the canal.

Also speaking, Chairman of the street, Uzo Umejiege, lamented that the area experiences severe flooding whenever it rains heavily during the rainy season.

According to him, many households lost valuable property to the flood, warning that the situation could eventually lead to loss of lives if not urgently addressed.

“One of the major causes of this challenge is the topography of the area. Our street is usually the worst hit because it is located at the lower end of the slope.

“We appeal to the government to help us construct a larger drainage system capable of channelling water coming from other parts of Ifite-Awka so that residents here will not continue to suffer every rainy season,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents of Ogidi community intensified calls for urgent intervention over the persistent flooding through a peaceful demonstration in the flood on Monday.

During the demonstration, the youths of the community highlighted the worsening condition of their roads, homes, farmlands, and business areas during rain periods, displaying placards with various inscriptions that reflected their concerns.

The residents expressed concerns over the survival of the community, the safety of children, and the need for urgent action to prevent further environmental destruction.

Speaking during the protest, the President of Ogidi Youths, Chris Obi-Okafor, stressed that the community is facing a serious humanitarian challenge caused by recurring flood incidents.

Obi-Okafor further explained that farmlands and economic trees are being destroyed, while businesses are collapsing, and movement within the community has become difficult due to submerged roads.

He further noted that the education of children in the area is being disrupted as flooding prevents school attendance during rainfall periods, raising fears about the long-term impact on the community’s future development.

He called on both the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu and the Anambra State Government led by Governor Chukwuma Soludo to urgently intervene and provide lasting solutions.

The traditional ruler of Ogidi, Igwe Alexander Onyido, said he would continue to engage the state government on the need for immediate intervention to prevent loss of life and reduce the growing impact of the flooding.

Community leaders maintained that the appeal remains peaceful and rooted in urgent survival needs, urging authorities at all levels to respond swiftly to prevent further deterioration of living conditions in Ogidi.

An aged resident in the area who spoke to our correspondent, Ndidi Nwacha, a yam and cassava farmer, narrated her ordeals.

“I am a farmer. The flood has destroyed my crops. It has ruined my hopes and wasted my labour. I don’t know where to start. I borrowed some money at a high interest rate to invest in large-scale farming this year,” she said.

When contacted, the state ministry of environment said officials are aware of the challenges the flood-prone areas are facing and are intensifying efforts to mitigate the crisis through constant drainage clearing, desilting of waterways and constant sensitisation of communities on proper channelling of wastes.