About 76 communities in Anambra state are currently apprehensive following what they described as the foot dragging by federal and state governments in responding early over the looming 2023 flood disaster in the area. National Emergency Management Agency NEMA had earlier this year warned against the impending flood disaster in over 30 states in Nigeria urging the affected Communities to take proactive measures ahead of the incident.
Similarly the farmers in Anambra West, East, Ayamelum , Ogbaru and Awka North council areas are lamenting over what becomes of the fate of their food crops that would be submerged by this year’s flooding.
According to Mrs Adora Nwokoye from Ayamelum local government area; “We have not seen any government officials coming to talk to us here and we don’t even know where we shall run to when the flood comes because there is nothing on ground” President General of Akili Ogidi Community in Ogbaru local government area Mr Chukwusa Micheal; “We were told that sensitization program has commenced against this year’s flooding and we hope that they would come and organize the Town Hall meeting “ “But we urge government to come early and commence intervention before it comes and you know that Ogbaru local government area is where the entire flood would empty and we should commence evacuation on time before it is lait “he said.
In Anambra West local government area q senior staff of the Agriculture department Mr Ajane Obi noted that the 17 communities that make up the area have been undergoing sensitization but was quick to add that government should assist the farmers in the harvesting and preservation of the agric produce before the flood.
In Anambra East local government area Mr Veracious Nweke a fish farmer recalled how the immediate past member that represented Anambra East and West Federal Constituency Chief Chinedu Obidgwe have been assisting the farmers and fishermen and women in the past.
“He was so good to us when he was in Abuja and we had no much problems and also the state government has been helpful but we want them to start early enough because last year’s flood took us unaware and you can emerging what we passed through last year” he said. When contacted the Anambra state Deputy Governor and Chairman Flood Mitigation Committee Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim promised to make public what government is doing to avert the effects of the disaster early enough while urging the communities not to panic.
