The Rivers State House of Assembly has directed three commissioners in the state, Dr. Nyema Weli Commissioner for Environment Dickson Umunakwe, Special Duties and Mrs. Ibim Seminitari Information and Communication to prepare on how to tackle 2013 flood.
This is sequel to the Nigeria Meteorological Agency and National Emergency Management Agency NEMA predictions, recently after the 2012 flood that there will be heavy down pour in the north and south of Nigeria, including Rivers State in 2013 which will cause flood in the areas. The State House of Assembly had invited the three commissioners in the state to know how prepared they are on the forthcoming flood in 2013 and their roles in the 2012 flood that ravaged four LGAs of the state.
Debating on the issue on the floor of the House, Hon. Chidi Julius Lloyd, the leader of the House who moved the motion on the matter, hinted that the essence of inviting the commissioners was on the issue regarding to the Nigeria Meteorological Agency and NEMA predictions that there will be heavy down pour in some parts of Nigeria, includings Rivers State, adding that the state Assembly wants to know their strategies on how to tackle the flood in 2013 and their role in the last flood in 2012.
While answering the lawmakers’ questions, Dr. Weli commissioner for Environment and member of the flood committee in 2012 who explained his role during the 2012 flood in the state said he joined hands with other members of the committee to visit the victims and provided relief materials to them, noting that last year’s flood that ravaged some peoples homes in some state was beyond the state because it came from distance and not because of the rain.
According to him, if such reoccurred in 2013 the only remedy is to dredge the Orashi River, River Niger, Ntawogba and other creeks and alternatively evacuate the affected victims to a safer designated areas prior to the flood, stressing that, dredging of the rivers will be the collaboration of the state and federal government.
On her part, Mrs. Ibim Seminitari who noted that her role was to inform the public on the flood, explained that the ministry was able to provide feed back mechanism in the camp and gave phone numbers to victims to call in times of need from the government.
According to her, “in 2013 flooding we are working out modalities to tackle the flood, we want to ensure that we announce in the media every week to notify the public on what to do, as well as work in collaboration with the CDC and two town criers at the grassroot level to inform them on what to do,” Ibim stated.
On his part the Commissioner for Special Duties, Barr. Umunakwe explained that relief materials was provided for the victims in 2012, saying that 30 million naira was approved for the planting season and distribution of plantain suckers, banana suckers, cassava stems and yam suckers to victims of the four affected LGAs in the state, assuring that the ministry is working out modality to tackle the forthcoming flood in 2013.
Some of the lawmakers who spoke on the issue, blamed the commissioners for not doing their job perfectly in 2012 flood and urged them to do more enlightenment, as well as provide solutions to the 2013 flood.
In his ruling the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Otelemaba Dan Amachree urged the commissioners to go back and prepare on how to tackle the forthcoming flood in 2013, that they should give the House the details of their planning before time. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
