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Business men, residents lament over flooding in Imo Communities
DDM NEWS
Flood in Umuguma road
The Imo community is currently facing a severe flooding crisis that has displaced hundreds of residents and caused significant damage to properties worth billions of naira.
The flood, which occurred after a 12-hour downpour, has affected several areas in Owerri, the Imo State capital, including the Federal Housing Estate at Chukwuma Nwoha road, old CBN quarters at Egbu road, and Federal Housing World Bank Estate.
The estate has been severely flooded, with many homes and properties damaged.
Residents in this area have also been affected, with floodwaters causing significant damage to properties.
The estate has been flooded, with many residents displaced and properties damaged.
Displaced victims have called on the state government to come to their aid, providing assistance to help them recover from the devastating effects of the flood.
Many residents have been forced to seek alternative accommodation, while others have been trapped in their homes or vehicles.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had earlier sensitized stakeholders in Imo State on the need for preparedness and mitigation measures to combat flooding.
However, despite these efforts, the recent flood has still caused significant damage and displacement.
Flooding is a recurring threat in Nigeria, with inadequate drainage, construction on floodplains, and blocked water channels making communities vulnerable.
The country has experienced severe flooding in recent years, including in 2022 and 2024, which resulted in significant loss of life and property.
The Imo community is urging the government to take immediate action to address the flooding crisis and provide assistance to affected residents.
This includes: Providing Emergency Relief.
The government should provide emergency relief to affected residents, including food, shelter, and medical care.
The government should invest in infrastructure development, including drainage systems and flood control measures, to prevent future flooding.
The government should develop and implement effective disaster preparedness plans to mitigate the impact of future floods.
A report states: “Business owners and residents along the World Bank-Umuguma Road in the Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State have lamented the deplorable condition of the main road, which they say has crippled economic activities, trapped commuters, and displaced households.
During separate interviews with DDM News on Thursday, some residents pleaded with the state government to urgently rehabilitate the road, which links the World Bank area to the densely populated Umuguma community.
The road, which links Owerri Municipal to Owerri West LGA, is considered by residents as strategic for the economic growth of the state.
One of the residents, Pastor Chigozie Ejikeme, who said he had lived in the area since 2014, described the recurring hardship caused by flooding along the road during every rainy season as “unspeakable”.
Ejikeme said, “We’ve been facing this issue since I moved here in 2014.
The suffering is unspeakable. Every rainy season, the floodwater rushes down from the Imo Housing Estate and invades homes and offices along the road.”
He criticised the alleged half-hearted efforts made by the state government over the years.
“Some contractors always bring caterpillars during the rainy season just to create the impression that work is ongoing.
“They pour sand on the road and vanish as soon as the rains intensify. This has been happening for the past nine years.
“In May this year, they came again, dumped sharp sand, blocked the only drainage, and left. The result was catastrophic—a flood overtook my church and office, destroying many things.”
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