Ogidi Under Water: Senator Umeh Demands Urgent Federal Intervention as Floods Cut Off Federal Road

By Praise Chinecherem

A devastating flood has submerged homes, displaced residents and rendered a federal road impassable in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, prompting Senator Victor Umeh to demand urgent intervention from the Federal Government.

The senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District made the call during an inspection of flood and erosion disaster sites across Idemili, where he visited affected communities to assess the scale of the destruction and hear directly from residents.

Senator Umeh was received in Ogidi by community leaders, including the President-General of Ogidi, Mr Chijioke Ewesiobi, and the President-General of Ogidi Youth, Hon. Chris Obi Okafor.

Community leaders briefed the senator on the human cost of the disaster, including the reported death of a pregnant woman who drowned while travelling in a tricycle during the flood. A herdsman was also said to have lost his life while attempting to rescue a cow trapped in a ditch.

Umeh inspected streets and residential areas where floodwaters had submerged homes and compounds, as residents expressed growing fears over the worsening situation as the rainy season approaches its peak.

The affected residents appealed for immediate government intervention, including the establishment of an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp and emergency assistance from government agencies and well-meaning individuals.

At the palace of the Traditional Ruler of Ogidi, HRM Igwe Pharm. Alex Uzor Onyido, Ezechuamagha I, which was also affected by the flooding, Umeh expressed sympathy with the victims and described the situation as a “natural disaster” requiring urgent and coordinated intervention.

“This is a natural disaster, and the Federal Government and its relevant agencies must urgently intervene with permanent solutions,” Umeh said.

The senator noted that the magnitude of the crisis could be beyond the capacity of the Anambra State Government to handle alone, stressing the need for federal agencies to take decisive action.

He assured the community that he would pursue the matter legislatively when the Senate resumes, promising to draw the attention of critical agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Ecological Projects Office.

Umeh also renewed his call for the Federal Government to declare the Idemili Basin an Environmental Disaster Zone, arguing that such a designation would facilitate coordinated and sustained intervention to address the recurring flooding and erosion challenges in the area.

“Upon the resumption of the Senate, I will ensure that the plight of the people of Idemili is brought to the attention of the appropriate federal agencies. We need permanent solutions, not temporary measures,” he said.

Responding, Igwe Onyido, Ewesiobi and Okafor commended Umeh for visiting the affected areas and responding promptly to the community’s concerns.

They expressed optimism that his intervention would draw wider attention to Ogidi’s flood crisis and accelerate efforts toward a lasting solution.

The community leaders also praised the senator for what they described as people-oriented representation, highlighting initiatives such as the Anambra Central Students’ Scholarship Scheme, which currently sponsors 332 students across 58 communities in the senatorial district, including beneficiaries from Ogidi.

The visit comes amid renewed concerns over the vulnerability of communities within the Idemili Basin to flooding and erosion, with residents calling for urgent intervention before further lives and property are lost.

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