"We Lost a Goat and Two Chickens, Not Human Lives” — Nkemba Residents Debunk Flood Death Reports

 

"We Lost a Goat and Two Chickens, Not Human Lives” — Nkemba Residents Debunk Flood Death Reports

…commend Gov Eno for prompt emergency response 

Residents of the Nkemba Street axis in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, one of the communities benefiting from the flood intervention by the government have dismissed reports circulating in some national newspapers and online platforms claiming that two people died during the flash floods caused by the recent torrential rainfall in the State capital. 

The residents made the clarification during the monitoring of an ongoing desilting exercise on the Nkemba by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

Some national dailies, notably The Leadership Newspaper, had reported the killing of two persons in the flood disaster at Nkemba Street. 

But speaking on behalf of the community, the Youth President of Iboko Offot, Mr. Francis Jumbo, described the reports of fatalities as false, stressing that although the flooding caused significant damage to property, no human life was lost.

According to him, “We lost a goat and few chickens, not human lives.” 

He expressed appreciation to the Akwa Ibom State Government for its swift response to the incident and pledged the community's full cooperation as efforts continue to clear blocked drainage channels along the Nwaniba–Ikot Ekpene Road corridor and other affected parts of the state.

Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Nsikak Ekong, said the state government had intensified intervention efforts across flood-prone areas to reduce the impact of heavy rainfall.

He urged residents to desist from dumping refuse into drainage channels, noting that gutters serve as designated waterways and must remain free to allow the unhindered flow of stormwater.

Condemning the spate of structures on top of drainages, the Commissioner announced that no effort will be spared to remove such structures to ensure free flow of water. 

“I’ve interacted with the village head and members of the community, and no life was lost. The worst hit location of the flood on this Nkemba axis, was the Church of Christ vicinity, and there was no casualty”, he affirmed. 

Also speaking, the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), Dr. Ubong Harrison, said the agency, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, has been monitoring desilting operations across the state in line with Governor Umo Eno's directive.

Dr. Harrison assured residents that the ongoing desilting exercise would improve the free flow of water through drainage systems and help prevent a recurrence of such flooding incidents.

The Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Amitec Construction Limited, Chief Aiman Saimua, said the company's workers are operating round the clock to ensure drainage channels are cleared to reduce the risk of future flooding.

He listed the human activities, most especially, properties built on the water channels as part of the challenges facing the evacuation of the water and told indigenes that the State Government has authorized the removal of all structures on the drainage channel. 

Some residents of the benefiting communities who interacted with the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Research and Documentation, Dr Essien Ndueso along the Nkemba drainage corridor, said expressed gratitude for the government's prompt intervention. 

They affirmed that no lives were lost, but lamented the huge inconvenience and frustrations recorded as a result of the flood. 

Dr. Ndueso who told them that they equally had a duty to play in protecting the water channels, urged them to tell enlighten their neighbours that the desilting will result in the demolition of structures sitting on the drainage way. 

He also advised journalists to cross check their facts before always going to the press, maintaining that Governor Eno, being a proactive leader, was determined to prioritize the wellbeing and welfare of his people. 

While many are still counting their losses from the flooding, they said they remain hopeful that the ongoing efforts will help prevent similar incidents in the future and pledged their continued support and cooperation with the government.

The first phase of the desilting, involves opening up the drains from Olusegun Obasanjo way through Nkemba to Ikot Ekpene Road, a distance of 4.5km, from where the further desilting would take place through from Ikot Ekpene Road, through Udoete to Afaha Oku