Flood shuts down LGA in Delta

NDOKWA East council area, Delta State, has shut its secretariat at Aboh for two weeks, following the ravaging flood overrunning the council headquarters and most of the communities in the council area.

The council chairman, Mr. Juan Governor, in a statement on Monday, said: “The decision was to enable us to evaluate the situation after which we may have to operate from Ashaka until the flood recedes and the Aboh road becomes safe for commuting. However, critical staff would be working from home at this time.

“We would have kept the secretariat at Aboh operational but that will expose the staff to the unsafe boat commuting as most of the key staff may not be able to afford the cost implication and the council is not disposed to foot such bills and cannot encourage such water commuting with the associated risks under the circumstances.”

He groaned that the flood had taken over almost all the communities in the council area.

“There is a possibility of more communities getting submerged within the next few weeks.

“Aboh-Ashaka road and the majority of our community roads have been taken over by the flood; although the Ashaka–Kwale, and Ashaka–Arhade roads are safe for commuting as the flood has not encroached these roads.

“As many of us may be aware too, apart from the several warnings, we are yet to get any directive from state and Federal Government as well as all relevant agencies concerning setting up of IDP camps and other responsive actions.

“On the part of the council, the LGA flood Management Committee has been set up for the various INEC wards in the LGA.

“This week the committee will be going around the entire LGA to assess, evaluate and establish the current onsite situation, assess the associated potential risks, and develop an immediate need assessment for further actions.

The council boss urged community leaders and other stakeholders “to do everything they can to sensitize their people, monitor and enforce all possible strategies in their various communities across NELGA to ensure that no life is lost during the flood season.

“As water travel is now on the increase, we recommend that we all adhere to the water travel safety measures.”