Many houses and farmlands in flood-prone communities of Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area and Ifite-Awka in Awka South LGA of Anambra State have been submerged following days of persistent rainfall.
The flooding, triggered by heavy rainfall on Sunday and Monday, left several families stranded and forced many residents to seek refuge in safer and upland areas.
Residents affected by the disaster have called on the Anambra State Government to urgently intervene, warning that the recurring flood crisis continues to disrupt livelihoods, destroy property and threaten lives.
A visit to the affected communities on Tuesday showed widespread devastation, with homes, business premises and farmlands submerged. Some residents were seen evacuating damaged belongings, while others struggled to remove floodwater from their houses and shops.
In Ifite-Awka, several structures suffered extensive damage, including the headquarters of a Pentecostal church, which partially collapsed under the impact of the flood.
Residents blamed the persistent flooding on poor urban planning, indiscriminate construction and weak enforcement of building regulations.
According to them, developers erected structures on natural waterways, obstructing drainage channels and worsening the impact of heavy rainfall.
The District Head of Foursquare Gospel Church in Ifite-Awka, Rev. Sam Ufo, described the incident as the worst flood disaster experienced by the church since relocating to the area.
“Items destroyed by the flood include musical instruments such as pianos, amplifiers and electronic equipment, alongside important church documents and records,” he said.
Ufo explained that while the church had experienced flooding previously, the scale of the latest incident was unprecedented.
He alleged that some developers blocked waterways originally designed to channel floodwater into nearby canals.
“We identified that the major cause of the perennial flooding is blockage of drainage channels. Developers acquired waterways and built structures on them,” he said.
He appealed to government authorities to recover and reopen the original waterways to prevent future disasters.
Also speaking, Chairman of St. John Street in Ifite-Awka, Uzo Umejiege, lamented the repeated flooding incidents during every rainy season.
“One of the major causes of this challenge is the topography of the area. We are at the lower end of the slope and suffer severe flooding whenever it rains,” he said.
He urged the government to construct larger drainage systems capable of accommodating water flow from surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, residents of Ogidi community staged a peaceful protest on Monday to demand urgent intervention over the recurring floods.
Youths in the area displayed placards expressing concern over deteriorating roads, submerged farmlands and worsening environmental conditions.
President of Ogidi Youths, Chris Obi-Okafor, described the situation as a humanitarian crisis.
He said the flooding had destroyed farms, economic trees and businesses while also affecting movement within the community.
“Our children are unable to attend school whenever heavy rainfall occurs. The impact is becoming unbearable,” he said.
Obi-Okafor called on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Chukwuma Soludo to urgently intervene and provide a lasting solution.
The traditional ruler of Ogidi, Igwe Alexander Onyido, also appealed for immediate government action to prevent further destruction and possible loss of lives.
An elderly farmer, Ndidi Nwacha, narrated how the flood destroyed her yam and cassava farms.
“I borrowed money at a high interest rate for farming this year. The flood has destroyed my crops and ruined my hopes,” she lamented.
Reacting to the development, officials of the Anambra State Ministry of Environment said authorities were aware of the situation and had intensified efforts to address flooding through drainage clearing, desilting waterways and community sensitisation campaigns.
