Imo flood renders residents stranded, transport fares soar

Residents of several communities in Imo State are counting their losses following days of torrential rainfall and flooding, as the National Emergency Management Agency commenced rescue operations for stranded residents.

A senior rescue official with the NEMA office in Imo State, Innocent Nweze, said the agency had, since Sunday, been moving residents trapped in flooded areas to safer, higher grounds.

Nweze said residents of Amakaohia and Akwakuma, among other communities around Rochas Market, had been rescued.

“NEMA has rescued and responded to several communities and persons in villages around Rochas Market in Amakaohia and Akwakuma,” he said.

He urged residents living in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer locations and avoid actions that could increase their vulnerability.

“We have increased the alertness and readiness of all relevant stakeholders in both Imo and Abia states to emergency response,” Nweze added.

He said the agency had also distributed relief materials to victims of a windstorm in Umuori and Ekemegbuoha communities in Owerri North Local Government Area.

“Already, we have provided blankets, mosquito nets, vegetable oil, spaghetti and tomato paste to victims of windstorm in Umuori and Ekemegbuoha communities in Owerri North Local Government Area,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents of Emeabiam, FUTO, Eziobodo, Ihiagwa, Umuguma, Ohaozara, Amakaohia, World Bank, Federal Housing, Works Layout and New Owerri are still counting their losses caused by the flooding.

The flooding, which affected parts of Owerri and neighbouring communities, followed days of heavy rainfall that submerged roads, disrupted transportation and forced some residents to remain indoors.

A resident of Umuguma and commercial bus driver, Michael Okere, said the flooding had drastically reduced the number of vehicles operating on the affected routes, leading to a sharp increase in transport fares.

“Since Thursday when the rains started, some of my fellow bus drivers have parked their vehicles for fear of mechanic visits, so we are few plying the roads now.

“On Monday, we charged N1,000 against the regular N500 fare and the people complained. But since they had parked their vehicles, they had no option but to board our buses,” Okere said.

He said he eventually charged some passengers the normal fare after considering their circumstances.

“I felt like a schoolchild and so collected the normal fare from them since I’m also a father,” he added.

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A civil servant, Mrs Nnadi, said commuters were being forced to spend a substantial part of their income on transportation to avoid being absent from work.

“I paid N1,500 from World Bank Junction to Umuguma Junction yesterday evening. Now the question is, how much do I earn that I pay that much?

“Just because I’m entrusted with the key to my boss’ office, does that mean I should go bankrupt to prove my dedication? I fear that I will skip work on Wednesday if the rain continues,” she said.

A secondary school student was also seen appealing to a commercial bus driver to accept the old fare, saying that was the amount his parents had given him.

In Umuguma, a resident, Ezirim Ernest, who said he had lived in the area for 15 years, lamented the impact of the flooding on human and vehicular movement.

“Since Thursday, I have not left my house because the whole place is covered with water. Flood has taken over Umuguma,” he said.

Ernest questioned why the road leading to the local government headquarters had remained in poor condition for years.

“We expected that with the loss of two lives on that road two years ago, the government would have expedited action on the completion of the road that connects the Federal and Imo Housing estates.

“The contractor who has been on that road for four months is doing nothing to remedy the situation. Umuguma is a business area that serves as the capital of Owerri West Local Government Area,” he said.

He appealed to the Imo State Government to intervene and review the work being done by the contractor on the road.

PUNCH Metro gathered that parts of the popular Okigwe Road and Wethral Road were also submerged following the heavy downpour, with poor drainage contributing to the flooding.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of the state Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, on the government’s plans to address the situation were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls.