Chinedum Treasure
Anambra state government has reasured residents of flood-prone communities in the state of immediate delivery of palliatives ahead of predicted flooding in the state.
Commissioner for Special Duties, Beverly Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche who gave the assurance in a press briefing said the era of complaints of late arrival and distribution of palliatives by flood victims was over with the advent of her ministry.
The Commissioner had earlier commenced flood intervention pre-planning activity with interactive meetings with those living in riverine communities in the state.
The meetings provided opportunity for government to evaluate impact of previous years’ flood intervention efforts and to get feedbacks from the locals mostly affected by the deluge in order to plan and design more holistic, effective and efficient flood intervention programme.
The engagement was also targeted at sensitising the people on the upcoming flood as predicted by Nigeria Hydrological Services and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMET.
Addressing reporters in her office on Wednesday, Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche said, “We went ahead of time to sensitize the major areas four areas- Ogbaru, Ayamelum, Anambra East and West on the need to relocate to upland.
“We assured the residents there won’t be delay in distribution of palliatives. As soon as we receive them, we’ll move them to the direct beneficiaries.
“With the type of Governor we have who has the interest and affairs of the poor and downtrodden at heart, it will no longer be business as usual.
“I remembered visiting those areas with my colleagues as a lawmaker, but now I’m in the executive, I’ll be leading the team.
“We’ll definitely mobilize men and materials to those areas ahead of the deluge to ensure adequate attention and care are given to the victims.
“Luckily, most of the roads that constituted hindrances to accessing those areas have been taken care of. The roads are so fortified that floods no longer affect the areas unlike before.
“We’re optimistic that the situation will not be as critical as it used to be when flood comes. We’re going to act fast. We’ve been watching the rain and flood. So far, no cause for alarm.
“Ironically and regrettably, where we’re even noticing challenges is within the city centre, where people build on waterways and when rain comes, they’ll be blaming government.”
Flood Intervention: Anambra State Government Holds Interactive Meetings With People Living In Riverine Areas, Sensitises Them On Impending Flood
By David Okpokwasili
Anambra State Government through its Ministry of Special Duties has has began her flood intervention pre-planning activity with interactive meetings with people living in riverine communities in the state.
The interactive meetings provides an opportunity for government to evaluate the impact of previous years’ flood intervention efforts and to get feedbacks from the people at the grassroots who are mostly affected by the flood so as to plan and design a more holistic, effective and efficient flood intervention programme.
It also serves as an opportunity to sensitise the people on the upcoming flood as predicted by Nigeria Hydrological Services and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMET.
According to them, the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook shows that parts of 148 Local Government Areas in 31 states of the federation including Anambra State fall within the high flood-risk areas, while part of 249 LGAs in 36 states of the federation and the FCT fall within the moderate flood-risk areas.
Speaking at Ifite-Anam in Anambra West Local Government Area, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Rt Hon. Barrister Beverly Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche told the gathering that the interactive meeting was imperative as it will help government feel the pulse of the real people affected by floods so that their real needs will be reflected in the flood intervention plan.
Commissioner Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche represented by the Head of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Ministry, Mr Emeka Ezeoke explained that regrettably flood intervention plans implemented by the government are usually found wanting in meeting the needs of the affected persons and as such this interactive meetings will help close the gaps.
For the President General of Umuoba-Abaegbu, Mr Joseph Anikpeh who spoke on behalf of the three communities that make up Ifite-Anam, Mmiata-Anam, Iyiora-Anam and Umuoba-Abaegbu, the major challenge facing them is that most times government interventions come in late and asked the planning and implementation be started early so that the purpose of the interventions will not be lost.
Mr Anikpeh also asked that post-flooding interventions such as the provision of farm inputs should come to them between November and January so they can engage in early farming before the flood season even as he also called for the provision of enough motor-boats to help in rescue efforts and distribution of food items.
For other speakers, the state government and their partners should also plan for ways to help people who cannot reach the selected holding camps and adopt a more democraticized means of distributing interventions so they will reach the most and real affected persons.
At Anaku in Ayamelum Local Government Area, the President General of the Community, Mr Paul Nwuba explained that the impact of the flood on the farms and the activities of herdsmen have put them in perpetual impoverishment and asked the state government to help them intervene especially with provision of grants, seedlings, fertilizers and in addressing the issue of herdsmen causing havoc on their farm lands.
The train of the state government delegation also visited Atani in Ogbaru Local Government Area and Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area where the Commissioner and her entourage interacted with residents of the lower-lands of those communities who are also usual victims of ravaging floods.
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