As part of flood intervention pre-planning activities, the Anambra State Government through its Ministry of Special Duties has commenced interactive meetings with residents of riverine communities in the state.
The interactive meeting which will last for ten days, provides an opportunity for the government to evaluate the impact of previous years’ flood intervention efforts and to get feedback from the people at the grassroots who are mostly affected by the flood.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services and the Nigerian Metrological Agency, NiMET have predicted an impending flood this year, with its 2024 Annual Flood Outlook showing that parts of 148 Local Government Areas in 31 states of the federation including Anambra State fall within the high flood-risk areas.
It also said parts of 249 LGAs in 36 states of the federation and the FCT fall within the moderate flood-risk areas.
In Anambra, Council Areas such as Anambra East, Anambra West, Awka North, Ayamelum, and Ogbaru, are majorly affected by the annual floods, while parts of Ihiala, Onitsha North and South, Idemili South, and Ekwusigo are also affected.
Speaking during one of the interactive meetings at Ifite – Anam in Anambra West Local Government Area, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Rt Hon Barrister Beverly Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche told the gathering that the meeting became imperative to enable the government to feel the pulse of the real people affected by the flood so that real needs will be reflected in the flood intervention plan.
Commissioner Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche represented by the Head of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Ministry, Mr Emeka Ezeoke regretted that flood intervention plans implemented by the government are usually found wanting in meeting the needs of the affected persons and as such, the interactive meetings will help close the gaps.
“This would enable the government to plan and design a more holistic, effective, and efficient flood intervention programme, as well as to sensitize the people on the coming flood,” the Commissioner said.
“We also want to plead that post-flooding interventions such as the provision of farm inputs should come to us between November and January so we can engage in early farming before the flood season.
“There is also the need for the provision of enough motorboats to help in rescue efforts and distribution of food items,” he said.
For other speakers, the state government and their partners should also plan for ways to help people who cannot reach the selected holding camps and adopt a more democratized means of distributing interventions so they will reach the most affected persons.
The state government delegation also visited Atani in Ogbaru Local Government Area and Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area, where the Commissioner and her entourage interacted with residents of the lower lands of those communities who are also usually victims of ravaging floods.
