Disaster: Flood Death Toll Has Risen To Four In Ndokwa East – Chairman

NDOKWA EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA (NELGA) PRESS RELEASE OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 10TH 2022
RE: UPDTAE ON THE PREVAILING FLOOD SITUATION

1. From the Office of The Executive Chairman of Ndokwa East LGA, Aboh, we send greetings to all the good people of NELGA, Friends and Well-Wishers. Good Morning!
2. We regret to announce that the death tolls due to the flood situation in NELGA have gone up to four as at the time of this press release. You will recall that we had earlier announced the death of a lady from Akarai and that of a young boy from Otuoku. Yesterday we got a report of another two deaths resulting from the flood; one is a lady from Okpai and the other is a young man from Onuabor. Thus the number of lives lost as a result of the flood has risen to four now. Please let’s remember them, their family and friends in our prayers.
3. While commiserating with the families we want to reemphasize the importance of safety at this challenging period. Two of the deaths (the woman from Okpai and the young man from Onuabor) are reportedly as a result of canoe incidents while the young boy from Otuoku was reportedly carried away by the floods while walking in a current driven mass of water. The woman from Akarai reportedly took ill from the cold of harvesting farm produce in her flooded farmland and due to the flood, medical attention was not available and a boat to take her out did not arrive on time; by the time they finally got a boat her condition was already out of hand and she was being transported from Akarai to Aboh for medical attention, she gave up the ghost in the boat on the middle of the river.
4. The situation calls for more stringent safety precautionary measures and everyone must look out for each other especially during this peak period of the flooding because the water levels keep increasing by the day and the current of the water is tripling by the day as well.
5. Everyone should continue to encourage our people to put “SAFETY FIRST”; Avoid overloading; ensure you use life jacket during travel period; Avoid low spots, like ditches, basements, or underpasses; Do not walk through flooded areas; If you have to walk in water, wherever possible, walk where the water is not moving; Do not drive into flooded areas; Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water; Know the weather; Let your people know about any trip you are embarking on, before your journey, during the trip and post arrival. Let’s PUT SAFETY FIRST, after God in all we do now and going forward.
6. Information reaching us indicates that the IDP Camp at Kwale has taken off at Utagba Ogbe Technical College and some of NELGA displaced people from Okpai and Beneku are already registering there. We are also aware that some of our displaced people from ward Iyede Ame, Lagos Iyede and other ward 9 communities are equally registered at the camps in Oleh and Ozoro. The NELGA Flood Committee will be visiting these camps to ascertain the number of households from NELGA that are registered in the various camps for our updates and records.
7. Although we have recorded high numbers of evacuation from our communities within the past twenty four hours due to the flood increase, we want to remind everyone of the earlier identified immediate needs by our people that was captured in our earlier press release which includes but not limited to Foodstuff, Mosquito Nets, Portable Water (Sachets or bottled), Toiletries (Soaps, Detergents etc., Medications, especially malaria.
8. We encourage all meaning Nigerians, especially Ndokwa Sons and daughters all over the world to remember us in your prayers as we wade through this period of natural disaster. In the same regard, we will appreciate any form of assistance from all of us to help our displaced people in need.
9. EXTENT OF THE IMPACTS ON THE WARDS AND COMMUNITIES
   a. Within the last two days, the flood level has taken a different toll with more impact on the communities across the LGA now.

b. It is no longer news that all the farmlands in all the communities have been flooded. No single community is spared in the menace.

c. The NELGA Flood Committee will be updating their record on Wednesday to capture current numbers of displaced households as more communities have been reportedly displaced within the period of our last press release and this current press release.

d. Currently, across NELGA, there are reportedly no sign of the flood receding anytime soon because reports from the various communities indicate massive daily increase as at the time of this press release.

e. From what the NELGA Flood committee gathered from the various INEC wards in NELGA, the following are the current impact assessment of the ten INEC wards in NELGA:

i. In Ward 1 (Ossisa Clan): 40 % of the communities (Umu Osimili, Umuleke, Umu Eze, Olao, Umu Uno, Umu Okolo, Lepper Camp, Obi-Igbo) have been covered by flood.

ii. In Ward 2 (Afor Iselegu, Obikwele Clan): 60 % of the communities (Afor Umuachi, Iselegu, Obikwele, Afor Ogbedigbo, Afor Okolori, Afor Obetim, Afor Obiogo, Afor Ogbeti, Umuachi Ogo, Umuokpala, Obikwele, Obi-Atu, Obi-Umuanuku, Osenikpe) have been covered by flood.

iii. Ward 3 (Aballa Inyi and Onuabor Clans): All the communities (Aballa Osimili, Aballa Obodo, Aballa Uno, Ajuju, Kamaro, Ofia Ishubom, Osumei, Inyi. Ogbete, Umuagwuyam-Ogo, Umuogu, Onuabor, Akpununu, Obotu, Ogwashi, Umuechi-Obiofu, Umuechi-Osuani, Akpununu, Obotu) have been covered by the flood.

iv. Ward 4 (Okpai, Beneku and Utchi Clans): All the communities (Okpai Oluchi, Okpai Umu Agulu, Okpai Ibusa, Okpai Ashaka, Okpai Obodoyibo, Okpai Obi Eze, Anieze, Obi-Ekuku, Obi-Usuani, Umuedem, Umugbome, Beneku, Obalu Utchi, Oboma Utchi, Asaba Utchi, Onitsha Utchi, Obecha Utchi, Umu Ochi Utchi, Okubedo Utchi, Mili-Uku, Owele-Okumedo) have been covered by the flood.

v. Ward 5 (Aboh and Akarai Clans): All the communities (Aboh, Abalagada, Ise Onokpor, Asemoku, Ikoliko, Ogbene, Abuator, Umu Iwele’, Agwe Iyom, Agwe Etiti, Anam Camp 1 & 2, Azu Aboh, Umuti, Afiankwor, Okpokirika Ozizor, karai Obodo, Akarai Etiti, Iyowu) have been covered by the flood.

vi. Ward 6 Umuolu, Onyha Clan): All the communities (Umuolu, Agadabili, Ugbome, Umu-Ijolo, Umu-Inalu, Umu-Oji-Obele, Umudu, Onyah , Abuator, Eke-Okpokri, Obieki, Osekwenike, Osifo, Oworobia, Utu-Okwume, Okpokrika, Adiai’Obi Aka, Owuriobia, Warri Irri, Otuoku, Obiofu, Utu, Utuechi) have been covered by the flood.

vii. Ward 7 (Ase, Asaba Ase Clan), All the communities (Ase, Asaba-Ase, Ashaka Ase, Ekelegbesi, Ise-Ogbokor, Iwene, Obodobra, Egbeme, Anam Camp) have been covered by the flood.

viii. Ward 8 (Ibedeni, Azagba Clans): All the communities (Ibedeni, Azagba, Ekpe, Okorafor Community, Osafu) have been covered by the flood.

ix. Ward 9 (Ibrede, Igbuku Clan): All the communities (Ibrede, Iyede Ame, Lagos Iyede, Awah, Anyama, Onogbokor, Oka, Igbuku, Oko, Ovala, Ishugume, Igbuku-Ughelli) have been covered by the flood.

x. Ward 10 (Ashaka, Ushie Clan): 70 % of the communities (Ashaka, Asaba Ashaka, Obi Ivi, Ashibalam, Obi-Izeh, Egwedhe, Odo-Achi, Ushie, Ugute, Ogbarude, Obi Ujene, Aballam, Obi-Anwu, Obi-Mgbaragu) have been covered by the flood.

10. The NELGA Flood Committee Meetings will be again on Wednesday this week to review the status across the LGA and update our records, plans and programs regarding the flood condition.
11. The key contacts of the NELGA Flood Committee are as follows:
    i. Team One (Ward 1, 2 and 3): Austin Azubike Ugbomah (08037215917)

ii. Team Two (Ward 4, 5 and 6): Hon. Okwuwa Ezechi (08065457004)

iii. Team Three (Ward 7, 8 and Nine): Hon. Felix Edemenya (08032902229)

iv. Elders Advisory Council Secretary: Albert Iyiacha (08032350166)

v. Secretary to Well-Meaning Leaders: Hon. Chika Ossai (08035422645)

Kindly refer all concerns, enquiries, suggestions and information regarding each ward to the committees for necessary action and follow up.

12. We will continue to encourage our people to unswervingly adhere to all water travel safety measures; Avoid overloading; ensure you use life jacket during travel period; Avoid low spots, like ditches, basements, or underpasses; Do not walk through flooded areas; If you have to walk in water, wherever possible, walk where the water is not moving; Do not drive into flooded areas; Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water; Know the weather; Let your people know about any trip you are embarking on, before your journey, during the trip and post arrival. Put Safety First, After God in all you do now and going forward.
13. We wish to continually assure us that the Local Government Council, in conjunction with the NELGA Flood committee members, the well-meaning Leaders and the Elders Advisory Council, we will continue to put in our best by doing everything within our wits, the odds notwithstanding, to ensure that our people stay safe while we encourage everyone to remain calm under the prevailing circumstances.
14. This too like every other phase shall soon pass away and by the Grace of God and we will overcome this flood season thanking and trusting God Almighty for a better tomorrow.
15. We will endeavor to bring you updates regarding the flood situation in NELGA. We wish all of us a happy new week irrespective of the floods challenges while thanking you all for your prayers, support cooperation and commitment. Please stay Safe and Remain ever blessed!

Signed:
Juan Amechee Governor.
Ndokwa East LGA Chairman.