Okowa to FG: Build dams, desilt major rivers to curb flooding

Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta state, has asked the federal government to build new dams and desilt major rivers in the country to check flooding.

Speaking on Thursday when he visited flood victims at some internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in the state, the governor said such proactive measure by the federal government will curb flooding especially when neighbouring countries open their dams.

There are reported cases of flooding across the state and other parts of Nigeria, with so many lives lost, residents displaced, farmlands submerged and properties destroyed.

Okowa, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also asked the government to make efforts at desilting River Niger and River Benue to deepen their depths and accommodate high volume of flood water.

Okowa said five persons died in various communities in the state, adding that 11 camps have been established to take care of those displaced by the flood.

He said daily feeding of the IDPs is a priority, and that medical facilities and personnel were in various camps to take care of the displaced residents to avoid possible outbreak of diseases.

“I was informed by the SSG when the team briefed me yesterday that as a result of the flood, five deaths were recorded, although not inside the camps but across the state, and that is very unfortunate,” Okowa said.

“We have 11 camps that are currently in place and some of them are in schools and some others are in high places in some locations where the schools have been overrun by the flood.

“Climate change, obviously, is becoming very impactful globally and it is beginning to affect a lot of issues. The sea levels are rising and so is the water level.

“Another issue is the dam in Cameroon. It always causes a major overflow in our river. From the preliminary information I have, what could be done is to build our own holding dams here in Nigeria and a regular desilting of our rivers.

“And, that is not going to be the state government’s function. It is that of the federal government because of the type of dam that will be built across the river. So, it is going to be a major dam.

“So, I believe that it is important that the federal government will look into it very quickly and begin to start the process.”

Camps visited by the governor included those at Ogbe-Afor Primary School and Oneh Primary School in Asaba and Ewulu Mixed Grammar School, Ewulu in Aniocha South LGA.