Reps call for urgent intervention in Delta flood disaster

The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene and bring succour to the victims of flood disaster that has ravaged Ndokwa East Communities in Delta State.

Nicholas Ossai, member representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta State who made this call at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday asked Ecological Fund Office to conduct an environmental survey with a view to addressing the excessive flooding in these Ndokwa Communities.

Ossai also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to urgently provide relief materials for the flood victims in accordance with section 6 (j) of NEMA Act.

He noted that since the past two weeks, the Ndokwa East Communities of Delta State have been bedeviled by constant and frightening heavy downpour, being accompanied by excessive flooding and erosion that is seriously and presently wreaking havoc in the Communities.

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The lawmaker also noted that the unprecedented heavy downpour have aggravated the already existing and saturated wetland of the communities which is occasioned by repeated ocean surges due to perennial flooding.

He said some of the affected communities are Ossissa, Onyah, Ase, Ushie, Ibedeni; Asagba, Aballa-Uno, Agballa-Obodo, AgballaOshimili, Uchi, Okpai, Onuaboh, Inyi, Benekuku, Aboh, Onyah, Asaba-Ase, Ibrede, Ashaka, Afor, Abalagáda, Umuolu, Igbuku, Obettim, Obodo-Okolafa, Iyadama,0nuogboko, UtagbaOgbe, Utagba-Uno, Ogume, Onitsha-Ukwuani, Akarri, and Umuolu.

The Chairman, House Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements is:”Disturbed that schools, farmlands, health Centers, places of worship has seriously been affected and over 150 households has been rendered homeless particularly children and women and more is still being affected daily.

“Worried that about Ninety (90%) of the Communities in the entire Ndokwa East Local Government Area has been submerged, and worse still is the deplorable economic conditions of
the peasant farmers in these agrarian communities.

“Observed that these Communities are often prone to serious environmental disaster as a result of the vulnerability of constant coastal flooding and erosion from the River Niger”.