In response to early warning from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NIMET) in its 2021 seasonal climatic forecast on flooding, the Delta State government has called for collaboration between landlords and other stakeholders to prevent flood.
Speaking during a meeting on flood alert on Monday July 5th 2021, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah, urged landlords and relevant authorities particularly in the capital to avoid dumping waste on drainages and building on water channels.
The SSG equally tasked them on regular environmental sanitation aimed at ensuring that the environment is clean just as he charged the State Waste Management Board to ensure that the Private Sector Participants (PSPs) in charge of taking waste does it timely.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Dr. Mrs. Minnie Oseji, disclosed that the ministry is working tirelessly with the taskforce in ensuring that residents dumps waste generated from their homes in designated places.
She hinted that the ministry has also adopted various measures including sensitization, coordination of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and removing of blockages from water channels so as to allow free flow of flood water.
She equally told the gathering of the various erosion sites in the state with particular reference to Owanta, Jesse and Okunzu gully sites which have mitigated flood in the areas.
Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr. Victor Ebonka, told the SSG, that the association has put plans in place to tackle the menace squarely.
Chairman, State Waste Management Board, Emma Chinye, applauded the SSG for the programme, disclosing that some markets needed to be short down this period in order to fight flooding.
He lamented that the drainage constructed around Anwai particularly the Anwai Primary School, has been filled with waste from homes and market especially those selling maize who dump waste generated from them inside the drains.
He disclosed that inadequate vehicles for monitoring have hindered their smooth activities.
Chairman of the State Taskforce, Sylvester Oromoni, who also expressed gratitude for the programme, noted that the taskforce has cordial working relationship with residents and government officials.
Representatives of landlords association drawn from GRA phase 1, 2 and 5, Infant Jesus, Airport View among others, called on the government to be holistic in their approach in mitigating flood.
Mr. Felix Igbekoyi and Dr. Victor Mowa, among other landlords who spoke called on the PSPs to be timely in evacuating waste, tasked government on sensitization, commended the SSG for the meeting and ensure that drains and blocked waterways are cleared.
Chief Ukah, tasked the State Bureau of Orientation, the ministry of Information, Waste Management Board, local government chairmen to take note of the issues raised by the landlords as they would help to forge a way forward in curbing the menace.
