FLOOD WREAKS HAVOC IN AKWA IBOM

Thousands of residents of Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, have been rendered homeless after severe flooding submerged homes and business premises following several hours of heavy rainfall on Thursday morning.

Among the worst-hit areas were Oron Road, Tabernacle Road, Abak Road, Ikot Ekpene Road, Ewet Housing Extension, Nkemba, CAT, Ukana Offot, Uwah and Aka Itiam streets, among others.

The scale of the disaster became evident after residents shared videos showing entire neighbourhoods underwater, with several houses and churches completely submerged.

One of the victims, Otuekong Ebong Bassey, who shared footage of his flooded ancestral home, raised concerns over the safety of his family after the entire building was submerged and his late father’s tombstone was almost washed away.

“I am calling on the state government to come to our aid,” Bassey said. “I am not sure of the safety of the other occupants of the houses. Their household property has been destroyed.”

Many residents were seen wading or swimming through the floodwaters, while others spread salvaged mattresses and household items outside to dry. Some displaced residents were reportedly forced to sleep on the streets.

Another resident, identified simply as Anite, appealed for government intervention, saying that homes, property and household appliances have been destroyed and many residents rendered homeless. Appealing to Governor Umo Eno to “do something to alleviate their suffering,” he recalled that “when a similar incident occurred during Godswill Akpabio’s administration, victims received compensation.”

While some residents blamed the flooding on poor road construction and drainage works by road project contractors, environmental experts attributed the disaster to climate change, blocked drainage channels and inadequate flood management infrastructure.

Governor Eno has directed the relevant government agencies to identify flood-prone communities and implement intervention measures immediately.

The governor, represented by Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi, gave the directive during a constituency briefing and empowerment programme organised by the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, in Abak Local Council.

Eyakenyi said the governor had mandated the Akwa Ibom State Emergency Management Agency and the state’s ministry of environment to assess the affected communities, adding that inspections had been completed and reports submitted.

According to her, the reports indicate that some areas require urgent desilting of drains and culverts, while illegal structures obstructing natural waterways may have to be demolished to enable permanent flood control measures.