By Ephraim Emmanuel
Early intervention measures and aggressive public awareness campaigns have drastically reduced casualties and mitigated the impact of this year’s flood season across Rivers State, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Speaking in an interview, Chidi Ogundu, Head of Operations for NEMA’s Rivers and Bayelsa office, credited strategic planning and timely sensitization for preventing a major disaster compared to previous years.
“We have gone past the stage of simple sensitization,” Ogundu said. “We took our awareness campaigns into the nooks and crannies of the state long before the heavy rains began, and that early effort has paid off. Our focus now is on identifying affected communities and evacuating residents to safe, equipped Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.”
While relief operations remain underway, the disaster agency appealed to the Rivers State Government for joint funding and resources to expand IDP facilities to accommodate displaced families across vulnerable councils.
Addressing acute flooding in the Eleme and Oyigbo Local Government Areas, Ogundu explained that the crisis in those sectors stems from a combination of natural forces and human activity.
He highlighted illegal development along natural drainage lines, blocked culverts, and ongoing infrastructure projects—specifically the construction of the Eleme section of the East-West Road—which has diverted floodwaters directly into residential neighborhoods.
“The situation in Oyigbo is a peculiar case requiring targeted assessment,” Ogundu noted, pointing out that several residents built properties directly over waterways, while others deliberately obstructed culverts intended to channel runoff.
NEMA confirmed it is continuing field assessments alongside local authorities to clear blocked channels and ensure relief supplies reach all designated displacement shelters.
