The Rivers State Flood Prevention and Management Committee is calling for urgent intervention from the Federal Government to dredge the Orashi River, which has been identified as a major cause of the recurring floods affecting several local government areas in the state.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the Committee Chairperson and Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu, said the appeal became necessary as communities in flood-prone areas continue to face severe challenges. She reminded all local government authorities to establish 13-member flood control committees to manage community sanitation and flood prevention efforts.
According to Prof. Odu, the flood committee — reactivated by Governor Siminalayi Fubara — has now moved into the mitigation phase. She explained that about 80 percent of the intervention funds had already been spent by the previous committee during emergency operations, which covered the rehabilitation of IDP camps, installation of boreholes, and procurement of non-perishable relief materials.
After the briefing, the Deputy Governor led members of the committee and journalists on an inspection of relief materials stored at the NNS Pathfinder Barracks, where she was warmly received by the Commander and a team of Naval officers.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to supporting communities affected by flooding and urged federal agencies to take immediate steps to dredge the Orashi River to prevent further loss of lives and property.
This report was first published by Mediaplusng.com, your reliable source for verified news and development stories across Nigeria.
Â
