The Rivers State House of Assembly has called for urgent intervention to address the worsening flooding across parts of the state, following reports of destroyed property, displaced residents and inaccessible roads.
The House took the decision on Tuesday during its 55th Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session after the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart, raised a Matter of Urgent Public Importance under Order 26 of the Standing Orders.
Stewart drew the attention of the Assembly to the worsening flood situation, saying residents in affected communities had lost property and means of livelihood to the disaster.
She also expressed concern over reports that poisonous reptiles had taken refuge in some submerged homes, describing the situation as a serious threat to residents.
The Deputy Majority Leader urged the House to visit affected communities to assess the extent of the damage and identify areas requiring immediate intervention.
Responding to the motion, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, sympathised with residents affected by the flooding and urged lawmakers to return to their constituencies to assess the situation and support affected residents where possible.
The motion was subsequently put to a vote and unanimously adopted by members, who agreed to inspect flood-affected areas in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.
Following the resolution, members visited several affected communities, where they assessed the level of flooding and interacted with residents who recounted the difficulties caused by the disaster.
Speaking with journalists after the inspection, Amaewhule said the visit was prompted by the motion adopted by the House and numerous distress calls from constituents across the state.
He said the lawmakers needed to see the situation firsthand, adding that what they observed demonstrated the urgent need for action.
“As an Assembly, we deemed it necessary to move around the streets of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt to see things for ourselves. What we have seen clearly shows that flooding requires urgent attention.”
The Speaker said several families had been displaced, while some roads had become inaccessible as a result of the flooding.
He further noted that the Assembly observed that some of the affected areas were flooded because of blocked canals and neglected drainage channels, while other locations were affected by natural water flow.
Amaewhule therefore urged relevant government agencies responsible for desilting and maintaining drainage systems to intensify their efforts and prevent avoidable flooding.
He expressed optimism that the Rivers State Government would respond promptly to the situation by taking measures to protect lives and property and address the flooding challenge across the state.
