Senate urges rehabilitation of flood victims in Abia

The Nigerian Senate has tasked the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and the National Emergency Management Agency to support victims of flood disaster in communities of Abia North Senatorial District.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu who was also a former Chief Whip of the Senate. He expressed concerns about the plight of flood victims which he said, has been pathetic.

Kalu explained that there was a heavy downpour with lightning and thunder so severe that it devastated buildings with lives lost as a result of the attendant flood.

Critical roads, he said, were washed away completely, causing hardship in the movement of people from one community to the other.

He said: “Some houses lost their roofs while others with weak foundations collapsed and occupants were displaced alongside their helpless families.

“Worst hit were Okoko-I7tem Primary School, Okposi Primary School, a radio station, a University structure and many other houses in Bende LGA.”

According to him, the incident was a natural disaster that brought economic activities to a standstill in the communities of Egbere, Item, and Eziukwu Road which was divided into two parts.

While lending their support for the motion, Senators Ennyinaya Abaribe, Austin Akubundu and Osita Izunaso were unanimous in their submission that the entire South East was being washed off by the flood, hence, the Federal Government should quickly intervene without delay.

Akubundu said he could confirm the devastation of communities in Bende and other parts of Abia and how the victims were in a helpless situation, “Mr Senate President, I can confirm the magnitude of the rainstorm that destroyed homes and government buildings in some places of the South East.”

Osita Izunaso representing Imo West Senatorial District said they warned of the impending flood and erosion challenges last year but were not taken seriously.

He said: “Mr President, this motion came up last year through a point of order that erosion was about to take over the entire South East, but nobody took us seriously and now you can see what is happening.”

After the debate, Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau who presided over the plenary upheld part of the prayers calling on the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Ministry of Power to rehabilitate some of the collapsed homes, roads and electricity installations.

He called on the people in the affected communities to cooperate with the government even as the government was ready to bring succour to them.