Mkpoikana Udoma 17 July 2014, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Federal Government has issued an alert of impending massive flooding in 14 oil producing Local Government Areas in Rivers State this rainy season, while warning residents to be on the alert.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Dickson Omunakwe at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Wednesday, said the the Federal Government warning was contained in a report issued two days ago by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the Nigeria Metallurgical Agency.
The Commissioner said the 14 Local Government Areas to be affected by the flood as announced by the Federal Government are Abua/Odual, Andoni, Bonny, Degema, Emohua, Etche, Akuku-Toru, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Obio/Akpor, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika, Port Harcourt city, Tai and Oyigbo Local Government Areas.
According to him, “They have informed us that 2014 Annual Flood Outlook will affect Rivers State, particularly 14 local governments will be affected, now out of the 14 to be affected, 2 local government areas have been classified as ‘high flood risk local governments”.
The River State Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Dickson Omunakwe, who advised those concerned to put into place the necessary measures to check flooding, assured that the state government would embark on sensitisation and work towards reducing the impact of the flood.
“We will do everything within our reach to make sure that they (residents) are ready to move at the shortest possible time, and we as the government will make sure that we sensitize them and also try as much as possible to reduce the disasters that may arise,” he said.