Flood Wreaks Havoc at Ogbaru Relief Market, Destroy 30 Shops, Electric Poles, Cables Etc.

By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha

About 30 shops, electric poles, cables and other installations such as water supply pipes have been destroyed by rain flood at Ogbaru Relief (Main) market, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State.

The flood water also left in its trail gulley erosions and other damages worth over tens of millions of Naira in the market.

The Caretaker Committee chairman, Chief David Obidike, who inspected the damages accompanied by newsmen on Saturday, appealed to the federal as well as Anambra State government for urgent assistance in fixing the damages.

Obidike, flanked by a former chairman of the market, Chief Victor Nwawuzie Akirika, said the flood water Awada area which overrun the Sakamori drainage system wreaked havoc in the market.

He recalled: “The Chief security officer of the market called me few nights ago and told me that a devastating flood from Awada Area, has carried the market as the flood entered under the Sakamori (drainage) system in the market and uprooted it, thereby wrecking havoc in the market”

“The damages were much; about 30 or more shops were washed away with the wares in them, the electric armoured cables, big water borne pipe and telephone cables buried underground were all exhumed and damaged by the flood.

“As I talk now we have not gotten power supply for a month now when the rainy season started and you can’t make a call, the market is in blackout and traders are using gen sets.

“Our market is now in danger because it is situated in the notorious Upper Iweka axis, these hoodlums can easily come into the market through the damaged portions caused by the erosion menace”

According to him, tight security in the market prevented hoodlums from looting affected shops.

“I plead to our amiable Governor Soludo and his hard working Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Hon. Obinna Ngonadi, including the Federal Government and all the National Assembly members within Ogbaru Federal constituency to come to our rescue as the extent of damages done is beyond our financial capability”, he said.

“We are making this appeal because if the rain comes again more harm will be done to the market let alone if the rainy season is over and nothing tangible done,” he adds.

Reacting, Chief Akirika,former Chairman of the market, said that, “the flood has caused very huge gulley erosions that affected many shops and this problem started early this rainy season. If nothing is done to it before the end of the rainy season, it will sack everyone in the market.

“The flood is from Awada down to old Aba park and finally to the Ogbo Azu. The foot of the market fly-over between the Relief market and Lagos park is gradually being touched by the erosion, so our Governor and Federal Government should do something now before it becomes too late”

In his contribution, the patron of the Relief Market traders Forum, Mr. Andrew Oguine, described the market chairman, Obidike as a self less and Godly person who the State Government fished out to rescue the market from enemies of Progress and urged the state government to assist him .

In their various remarks, the executive members that included Mr Obieze Mmadubuko and Dennis Okeke, lamented that the present ugly situation is giving them sleepless night as their wares are in danger even as victims of the erosion menace called on the government and good spirited individuals and corporate bodies to come to their rescue.