Rivers disburses N200,000 cash relief to flood victims

Rivers deputy gov, Prof Ngozi Odu

The Rivers State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the State Flood Prevention and Management Committee, Prof Ngozi Odu, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to providing immediate relief and long-term solutions to persistent flooding.

Prof Odu stated this on Friday while addressing flood-affected residents of Rukpokwu in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area at Government House, Port Harcourt.

The Deputy Governor noted that the flood situation had become particularly devastating in parts of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City, forcing some residents to rely on canoes to access their homes.

She explained that Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed the committee to intensify its efforts by revisiting the worst-hit communities to distribute relief materials and provide direct financial assistance.

According to her, the state government has commenced direct transfers of N200,000 to identified flood victims through their personal bank accounts to eliminate middleman interference and ensure aid reaches intended beneficiaries.

She added that the state government was simultaneously clearing waterways and blocked drainages to mitigate rising floodwaters.

“We have been sending trucks of food and non-food items. For each movement, three trucks go to an LGA, and we send more than three trucks to LGAs marked with red flags.”

“We are funding families directly to eliminate third parties. In this phase, because many people are affected, we are transferring N200,000 per family directly into their verified bank accounts.

• NEMA delivers relief items to Rivers flood victims
• Wike questions Amaechi’s 24-year record in public office
• PHOTOS: Fire razes 21 shops, vehicle in Abuja furniture market

“This demonstrates that we have a compassionate governor who prioritises the welfare of the people, especially the downtrodden,” she said.

Beyond immediate financial relief, the Deputy Governor said the state government was working on long-term engineering measures to redirect floodwaters into designated canals, explaining that heavy construction would commence once floodwaters recede.

She added that the government was integrating healthcare support through the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme to allow affected residents requiring medical attention to access free healthcare services.

Prof Odu commended the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency for deploying an assessment team to the state, while appealing for increased support from NEMA and other relevant federal agencies.

She reassured residents that the state government would sustain its interventions until the disaster was fully managed.

Responding, some of the beneficiaries, including Mrs Precious Uzoka, Muritala Sanusi, and Chinedu Asonye, expressed gratitude to Governor Fubara for the gesture, describing the direct financial intervention as unprecedented in the state.