Ten Local Governments In Anambra At Risk - Agency

This brief was given by the secretary of the body, Chief Paul Odenigbo, when he addressed newsmen in Awka today maintaining that residents should be adequately prepared for more emergencies.
Odenigbo lamented the level of destruction to belongings and infrastructures as a result of the flood that occurred due to the rainfall of July 27.
READ ALSO: Anambra Rain: 6 Drown, Property Worth 80 Million Destroyed
He went on to list the flood-prone councils which include Anambra East, Anambra West, Oyi, Ogbaru, Anyamelum, Onitsha North Onitsha South, Awka North, Idemili North, Idemili South, Ihiala and Ekwusigo.
He warned residents of the state against refuse dumping on drains and building on flood plains, adding that such acts will block water flow and redirect floods to homes and other unwanted places.
At least six persons were reportedly drowned and property worth over N80 million destroyed following an heavy downpour on Friday, July 24, in Obosi community near Onitsha in Anambra.

Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the downpour started in the early hours of Friday and caused the collapse of an uncompleted 4-storey building in the Owelle Aja area of the community, while many houses have been flooded with their occupants trapped inside them.
NAN reported that  a lot of people in the Oduke Layout were wailing, where a family of four drown during the downpour.
A landlord in the community, Chief Achebe Ifemaje, said that government must move fast to re-plan the community and stop land speculators selling every piece of available land, without minding the water channel.
“What has happened is a big lesson to everyone, especially where people refuse to plan but put money first, rather than the safety of lives. We appeal to Gov. Willie Obiano to come and re-plan the entire Obosi community, especially its layouts and the Owelle Aja area,’’ he the agency.
Another indigene of Obosi, Mr Michael Chukwurah, appealed to government to prohibit the activities of land speculators and restore the master-plan of the community by removing all structures blocking the free flow of water.
“It is a lie that Obosi does not have a master-plan, but land speculators will keep peddling that rumour, in order to get more land to sell; we do have a master-plan and prominent people in Obosi should invite the state government to come and do the needful.”

Odenigbo then affirmed that the state needed assistances to handle the looming emergencies, maintaining that forecasts by meteorological services revealed that there would be more torrential rainfall between August and October.
“There is great danger of flood in about 10 local governments and we are warning people resident in these areas to be cautious and ensure that the drains are free to reduce the risk of flooding. We are appealing to the general public to complement the government in providing relief materials to our brothers and sisters who will be affected. The 2012 flood is still fresh in our minds and we pray it never happens again,” he said.

NEWS 13:07