Tears, Agony as Flood Wreak Havoc in Anambra Community

By Praise Chinecherem

It was wailing and lamentations in Ifite-Awka, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State following heavy rainfall that wreaked havoc in the area.

The disaster which occurred Sunday night reportedly pulled down headquarters of the Foursquare Gospel Church and other several structures, just as it destroyed goods and vital documents worth hundreds of millions of naira.

When our reporter visited the area, residents and property owners along St. John Street were seen evacuating damaged property and other valuables destroyed by the deluge.

Those who spoke to reporters, blamed the flooding on poor town planning, indiscriminate building construction, and inadequate supervision of property development by the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA).

According to them, weak enforcement of building regulations allowed developers to erect structures on natural waterways, thereby obstructing the free flow of water during the rainy season.

Narrating the church’s ordeal, District head, Foursquare Gospel Church in Ifite-Awka, Rev Sam Ufo regretted that the church was among the worst-hit structures, with the entire church compound and auditorium submerged by the flood.

He listed items destroyed by the flood to include musical instruments such as pianos, amplifiers, and other electronic equipment, in addition to church documents and official records.

According to him, although the church had experienced flooding in the past, the magnitude of Sunday night’s disaster was unprecedented since the church moved into the area.

While accusing some residents of erecting structures on waterways originally designed to channel floodwater into a nearby canal, the cleric noted that the situation had continued to trigger perennial flooding in the area.

“The church was among the earliest property developers in the neighbourhood and had complied with approved building plans and drainage designs.

“Unfortunately, subsequent developments by other property owners have worsened the flood situation. We never envisaged this kind of flood challenge.

“When other people started developing their properties, they raised their foundations, and each time it rained, our compound would be flooded.

“We later raised and reinforced our fences to prevent floodwater from entering the compound. Unfortunately, the rainfall on Sunday night pulled down our fences and even those of our neighbours, the Redeemed Christian Mission, forcing massive floodwater into our premises.

“We have identified that the major cause of the perennial flooding is the blockage of the drainage channel that conveys floodwater into a nearby canal.

“Some developers acquired the waterways, blocked them, and built structures on them, thereby causing the flooding,” he said.

Ufo appealed to both the state and local government authorities to intervene by recovering the original waterways that channel water into the canal.

He expressed fears that the flooding could become more disastrous if urgent action was not taken to compel landlords and developers to remove structures obstructing the waterways.

Also speaking, Chairman of the street, Uzochukwu Umejiege, lamented that the area experiences severe flooding whenever it rains heavily during the rainy season.

According to him, many households lost valuable property to the flood, warning that the situation could eventually lead to loss of lives if not urgently addressed.

“Farmlands were destroyed, homes were displaced, household items were damaged, shops were flooded, and goods worth millions were lost.

“One of the major causes of this challenge is the topography of the area. Our street is usually the worst hit because it is located at the lower end of the slope.

“We appeal to the government to help us construct a larger drainage system capable of channeling water coming from other parts of Ifite-Awka so that residents here will not continue to suffer every rainy season,” he pleaded.

For Daniel Nwokolo, a tenant in one of the affected buildings, the flooding is a man-made problem that can be resolved if the appropriate authorities carry out their responsibilities effectively.

“I have lived here since 2017, and we have never witnessed flooding of this magnitude. The blockage of drainage channels caused this disaster. The floodwater comes from areas such as the Old Government House, Second Market, and Green House.

“The drainage channel here is less than two feet deep, which is grossly inadequate to contain the volume of water flowing into this area. Government needs to construct wider and deeper drainage systems capable of accommodating the floodwater.

“Government should also intensify monitoring and enforcement of development activities to ensure compliance with building standards and prevent developers from creating problems that will endanger other residents in the future,” he said.