Failed Drain System Causing Perennial Flooding in Warri

By thewillnigeria.com

…No, Blame It On Climate Change, Says Delta Govt
SAN FRANCISCO, October 13, (THEWILL) - The perennial flooding of the some quarters of Warri, the commercial nerve centre of oil rich Delta State, has been attributed to the failed canal and drainage system in the metropolis.

THEWILL learnt that several streets in the oil city were flooded over the weekend following a midnight rain which forced some residents indoors  .

Several parts of the oil city were submerged, residents residing in areas prone to flooding, told THEWILL.

The residents said that many people were trapped in the 3rd Marine Gate Road Gbiaye Street, Etuwewe, Walter Odeli Road, on Saturday till the early hours of Sunday when many church goers in a bid to reach their destination on time had to practically enter the deep water.

“Also, the situation made most parts of the estate no-go areas for the tricycles also known as Keke, the only means of public transportation in that part, making residents without private vehicles trek long distances,'  a resident said.

The residents who spoke to newsmen under condition of anonymity, said the situation in their area has been worsened by the fact that the drainage lining the streets are both blocked and not channeled into any visible canal.

“This flood you are seeing all over today all came from the rain that fell over the night. There was no flood yesterday, in fact, there was no rain for like two days and everywhere was dry, except for places where the road is bad, like Odeli Road.

“The problem here is lack of drainage, the ones you see here are all blocked and even if they had been free, they lead to nowhere,” he said.

'And don't forget, this is the same project the government claimed to have spent millions clearing some few months ago. The root cause of the perennial flooding in Warri is failed drainage system. We don't have a good drain system in Warri and its environs, so it is hard for the water to flow properly whenever it rains.

“The situation is the same in some other part of the state, including Asaba, Ozoro and Agbor which is another area mostly hit by flood and erosion,' the resident added.

Meanwhile,  efforts made to reach the Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Chief Frank Omare, to speak on government's efforts to sort the problem out, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls put across to him as well as the SMS delivered to his mobile phone number.

But responding on the situation, the state's Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah,  disagreed that flooding was as a result of the government failure to sort out the problem of failed drain system in the metropolis, saying  the problems should rather be blamed on climate change.

He however said the state government had plans to sort the situation out once and for all, but would do so immediately the rainy season is over.

“I know I've taken this thing up with Oga, especially that of Warri, we've had a lot of complaints, especially on roads, more of the flooding. What I know the governor said at that time was that this same rains are the cause of the problem, they are the cause of the delays in the construction of the roads and drainage projects that are ongoing.

“It is not only in Warri, buy also in Asaba. Come to the Okpanam Road axis, you will see the major problem there, but the governor is working on all those things. Immediately we can get a window…I think it's this climate change that is the major problem; at least before, we used to have what they call August break, but you see how the rain has just been going on and on.

“The minute they can have a window…it's not that you cannot construct during the rains, but the truth is the quality will be less and it will be worse, meaning you may just be throwing money down the drains.

“So the best thing is just to wait, let the rains subside, then you'll continue and that's why we've been talking about finishing strong. We understand that by the last quarter of the year, we will be able to do more of construction works,” Ogeah stated.