Anambra Communities Send SOS to FG as Flood Destroys Farms, Roads

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

Communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State have called on the federal government to come to their aid, following a recent flood that destroyed farmlands and damaged roads.

In a Save-Our-Soul (SOS) message made available to THISDAY yesterday, a businessman in the area, Mr. Patrick Ugboma, said that although the terrain in Ogbaru is fertile for crop production and fishing even though it is prone to perennial flooding due to its proximity to the River Niger.

He explained that his automated Matucci Farms Limited, which is located at Agbobo Umuoga Ossomala community, has been shut down following a recent flood that ravaged the farm and killed 25,000 poultry birds.

“About 400 workers of the company have lost their jobs as a result, affecting the economy of Ogbaru in particular and the state in general has been impacted.”

Ugboma claimed that successive state and federal governments have abandoned communities in Ogbaru and explained that the central road connecting Onitsha, Atani, Ossomala, Ogwuikpele, Ase Azaga  and Ndoni Road is in total state of collapse due to the flooding, hence the people find it difficult to move their crops from the farms to the hinterland.

He regretted that some bridges on the road, especially the Ossomala Bridge at Umunnakwo community, have also collapsed following a combination of flooding and erosion menace.

While urging both the federal and state government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to consider the construction of the damaged roads, which, according to him, hold huge economic importance to the people.

He said that efforts must be made to curb the perennial flooding in the state.