The Executive Chairman of Anambra East Local Government Area, Chief Ifeanyi Chinweze, has urged residents of communities along the coastal lines in the council area to relocate to the upland holding centers provided by the state government so as not to be cut unawares by the flood.
Chinweze appealed when he recently visited the council area to monitor the situation.
The council boss, who embarked on the visits in the company of some stakeholders, including youth leaders in the area, observed that the water level was increasing significantly.
He revealed that immediately after the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) forecast earlier this year, the Anambra State Government had commenced efforts to create holding centers for people who would be displaced by the flood.
Chinweze announced that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration had put everything in place at the holding center to ensure the well-being of those who may be affected by the year’s flood.
He noted that this included the provision of security and health officials, among other palliatives, to ensure that they were well taken care of.
The Anambra East Mayor called on the people of the council area, especially those in Aguleri-Otu, Anam, Nsugbe, and others, not to wait for the flood to come before they relocate.
According to him, the government has also provided free boats to transport the displaced persons to the holding centres in the uplands located at the Council Secretariat at Otuocha.
“We have been moving round informing our people about the impending flood, because we want to avert any form of casualties in the event of the deluge.
“Our people especially women, children and the elderly, who cannot keep pace in the event of an emergency, need to be moved to the uplands early enough.
“We are also informing them that the government has made provisions for them while they stay at the holding centres. Arrangements have also been put in place to provide education to our children who will be living in the camps I the interim, to ensure that they do not lag behind.
“What we want is the wellbeing of our people and to ensure that no life is lost and that minimum loss is recorded in terms of property and other valuables,” Chinweze posited.
