Incessant flooding of Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, has been a source of worry to residents who have severally appealed to the State Government to find a lasting solution to the perennial problem.
Flooding is a major problem in the city and resulted in the submerging of Ndi-Egoro, a suburb of the city some 37 years ago.
In 1980, Ndi-Egoro community in today’s Aba North Local Government Area of Abia State was submerged by flood, killing dozens and rendering families homeless.
De Sam Mbakwe, the first civilian governor of old Imo State, while seeking solution to the problem, cried to the Federal Government then under Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) for help and that singular act earned him the nickname “the weeping governor” for crying while trying to convince the Federal Government to pay more attention to his State.
The first occasion of his famed tears was the Ndi-Egoro flood in Aba, which was then a part of Imo State. He had invited former President Shehu Shagari to witness the destruction done by the floods, and it was said that he was moved to tears, while conducting the President round the disaster area.
To stop further occurrence, successive administrations in the State did remedial works on the area, which still did not provide answer to the problem.
However, the current administration in the State pledged to do things differently by seeking lasting solution to the erosion problem, faced by inhabitants of the city.
To address perennial flooding and to ensure that roads in Aba last longer, the State Government has embarked on holistic water management plan around Ife-Obara, in Ariaria area of the commercial city.
The Governor Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration in the State is working seriously at recovering the natural pond at Ife-Obara, which links roads, such as Old Express, Faulks Road, Omuma, Port Harcourt and Uratta roads, which are strategic to Aba.
The huge canal the government is constructing, through Ngwa Road will drain water off roads like Ngwa Road, Omuma, Osusu and adjoining streets.
Restoring Aba master plan and repositioning the city to its former position, as the centre of entrepreneurship in Nigeria and West Africa, is one of the focal policies of the present administration in the State.
Ikpeazu explained that the achievements of the State’s forbearers, the industrialists, businessmen, youthful and vibrant entrepreneurs, inspired his administration to put in place the structure and framework that would stimulate the conducive socio-economic environment in Aba and indeed Abia State.
He described as embarrassing the level of infrastructure decay, poor sanitation, lack of drainage facilities and failure of social system, which according to him, precipitated in the past disillusionment, bitterness and insecurity within and around Aba city.
He however stated that his administration has taken bold steps and compelling initiatives to quickly address those impediments and disincentives to business growth and development.
The State Government’s plan is to recover Ife-Obara pond, to solve the flooding challenge in Omuma, Osusu and environs.
It is observed that Osusu, Urata are linked to Ife-Obara pond. There is also a connection between Eziukwu road, Cemetery and Ife-Obara pond.
Consequently, if Ife-Obara pond is expanded and all areas that belong to it are recovered, would answer all the questions about flooding in Urata, Omuma and Osusu axis.
According to the Governor, “If we succeed in recovering Ife-Obara basin, we will not need a new plan for thorough water management in these areas, all we need is to open up the drainages and channel them to the basin”.
Setraco Construction Company, are currently creating a point where storm water from all parts of the city can rest within Ife-Obara and if there is an overflow, the design has provision for evacuation of the overflow to the Aba River.
Ikpeazu, during an inspection tour of the Ife-Obara project site commended Setraco, for sticking to the project plan, stressing that whatever thing anybody is doing in terms of roads in Aba and not talk about flood water management, would be in futility.
In his words, “The rot that we saw is so much in every place we go. If you go to the new road that we are building at Etche road, you will notice that before now that people placed asphalt over drainages.
“Some drainages were designed by MCC to come in the centre of the roads. The debt of some of the drainages in the centre of Etche road were about 9 feet deep, but before this time people placed asphalt on them, thereby preventing storm water from going away.
He continued, “And more than 200 houses have been abandoned in that area. So, for us to do that road, our approach is not to overlay, but to open up the drainages. And as people saw us doing this, they have started returning to their houses, because they have noticed that we have started opening up places that they never imagined drainages existed.
“If things had continued, I’m sure that in the next30 to 40 years, half of Aba, would have gone. But we thank God, may be slowly, but consistently, we have our eyes on the board and we are doing what we think is the best for our people under the circumstance”.
He affirmed that the task before all stakeholders is to ensure the transformation of Aba into a world trade investment and industrial hub that would serve the strategic interest of West African sub-region.
