Flood: Comrade Agberen Calls On DTSG To Put Measures In Place, Be Proactive

By Daniel Dafe

Activist Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen. has called on the Delta State Government to plan and put measures in place against floods across the local government areas in the state where high risk of flood may occur due to heavy rainfall.

In a statement on Tuesday, the activist listed areas to prone to flooding to include Warri, Ughelli, Uvwie, Sapele, Agbor, Kwale, Oghara, Oleh, Ozoro, Asaba, Abraka, Udu, Otu-Jeremi and Agbarho.

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He added: “The State government has to put structures in place to proactively respond to what is going on in the environments and not comfortably sit back and wait for disaster to happen before putting measures in place.”

According to him, the state “cannot afford to have impending flood disaster damage communities that renders thousands of residents homeless, destroy property, cause hunger coupled with the current situation of things.

Continuing, he said the storm Water Drainage Project that was executed by the former Governor of Delta State; Gov. Ifeanyi A. Okowa, swallowed billions of naira but yet, the condition of roads remain the same and even worse as a result of failed canal and drainage system in the metropolis.

“The Warri-Effurun-Sapele road has gone from being one of the best roads to the deadliest as a result of illegal structures blocking the free flow of water along waterways.

“Furthermore, the Delta State Government, under Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori’s led administration, should set up Drainages Maintenance Committee, with its role to; develop, review and assess effective disaster management practices so as to prevent water from causing harm to our roads and bridges. Structures blocking the natural waterways should be demolished whether it be approved or not and compensation should be given to people with legal structures if the need be,” he said.