Editorial: A Call for Urgent Action as Flood Threat Looms Again

Editorial

In the past, flood victims in Delta State and surrounding regions have suffered immensely, not only from the waters that swallowed homes, farmlands, and livelihoods but also from the silence and abandonment that followed. Previous administrations have consistently fallen short, responding with little more than temporary reliefs and hollow promises, leaving affected families to pick up the broken pieces alone.

Today, as the signs of another flood season begin to line the horizon, we are reminded of those bitter memories and the urgent need to ensure history does not repeat itself.

A Pattern of Neglect

The floods of previous years brought untold hardship. Communities were displaced, critical infrastructure was destroyed, and disease outbreaks followed in the wake of stagnant waters. Yet, after the rain subsided, many victims were left without long-term support or rehabilitation. Emergency shelters turned into forgotten camps. Promised funds never reached the intended hands. Entire communities struggled to rebuild with no help from those in power.

The Floods Are Coming Again

Meteorological agencies have issued early warnings. Rainfall patterns are shifting aggressively, and riverbanks are already swelling in some regions. Residents in vulnerable communities are bracing themselves for the worst, but this time, the responsibility is on the current administration to take decisive action before disaster strikes.

A Clear Charge to the Government

The people of Delta State are not asking for miracles, they are demanding responsibility, leadership, and compassion. The following measures must be urgently considered:

1. Prevention and Preparedness

•Clear blocked drainages and water channels across flood-prone areas.

• Dredge rivers and canals to reduce overflow risk.

•Deploy early warning systems and community awareness campaigns to prepare residents ahead of time.

2. Emergency Planning

•Establish and equip designated evacuation centres with food, bedding, medical supplies, and clean water.

•Set up a rapid response task force to monitor and respond to emergency situations in real time.

•Partner with NGOs, community leaders, and health organizations to build a unified response framework.

3. Post-Flood Recovery and Support

• Provide immediate relief materials to affected families without discrimination or delay.

•Ensure the rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced persons, including housing support and access to livelihood opportunities.

• Offer psychosocial support for victims, particularly children and women who suffer trauma from displacement and loss.

4. Transparency and Accountability

•Make public a flood response budget and implementation timeline.

•Establish an independent monitoring and evaluation team to track how funds and resources are allocated and used.

Let This Administration Be Different

Delta State cannot afford to relive the shame of past inaction. The government must rise above biased interests and take bold, visible steps to protect its people. We are at a critical point where prevention is still possible. Leadership in times like these is not about rhetoric, it’s about results.

The time to act is not tomorrow. It is now!

Let us not wait for floodwaters to force another round of emergency meetings and photo-ops at IDP camps. Let us act decisively, responsibly, and compassionately and let this season be remembered not for its tragedy, but for the leadership that rose to meet it.

Editorial by Congress Newspaper.