Flooding has disrupted life and economic activities in Nkpolu-Rumuigbo community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, with residents and business owners counting losses after heavy rainfall left parts of the area submerged.

The flooding affected homes, businesses, roads and other facilities, making movement difficult and forcing some residents to move their belongings to safer locations.

Several business owners in the affected areas were unable to open their shops or continue normal operations as floodwater spread across streets and commercial areas.

Residents said the situation has become a major concern as rising water continues to affect movement and daily activities in the community.

The flooding has also added pressure to communities across Port Harcourt and surrounding areas that have experienced widespread inundation following heavy rainfall.

Businesses forced to close

Businesses around Nkpolu and neighbouring communities have been particularly affected, with traders and other operators unable to access their premises.

The disruption has resulted in lost trading hours and damage to property and goods, adding to the economic burden on residents who depend on daily business activities for their livelihoods.

Similar disruptions have been reported in other parts of Rivers State, where flooding has affected commercial activities, schools, religious centres and residential areas.

Homes and residents affected

For residents living in low-lying parts of the affected communities, the floodwater has made it difficult to remain in their homes.

Some residents have had to move valuable belongings to higher locations or leave flooded buildings altogether.

Reports from other affected communities in Rivers State described residents attempting to rescue household items from rising water, while some families were forced to seek temporary shelter elsewhere.

The flooding has also affected schools and other community facilities. In Nkpolu, rising water forced activities at Rumuakoara Community Secondary School to be disrupted, while schools in other affected communities also experienced difficulties.

Religious activities have equally been affected in some locations, with churches and other public facilities recording reduced activities or shutting down because residents could no longer move freely through flooded areas.

Roads and movement disrupted

Flooding has continued to affect movement along several roads and communities in and around Port Harcourt.

Areas reported to have experienced flooding include Nkpolu, Rumuigbo, Rumuekini, Ozouba, Choba, Eneka, NTA Road, Stadium Road, Mgboba, GRA, Peter Odili Road, Rupokwu, Alakahia, Oyigbo, Atali, Rumulumeni, Rumoaholi and other communities.

Some roads became difficult or impossible to navigate, leaving motorists and pedestrians stranded and disrupting access to homes and businesses.

The recurring flooding has also renewed concerns about drainage, road infrastructure and the ability of existing urban infrastructure to cope with heavy rainfall.

Growing concern over recurring flooding

Flooding has become a recurring challenge in several parts of Port Harcourt, particularly during periods of intense rainfall.

Earlier reports on the Nkpolu-Rumuigbo axis have also highlighted the condition of Obi Wali Road, where flooding has previously disrupted businesses and movement between Rumuigbo Junction and Nkpolu Junction.

Residents and traders in the area have repeatedly raised concerns about the impact of flooding on businesses and transportation.

The latest incident has again drawn attention to the need for effective drainage systems, functioning roads and stronger flood management measures in vulnerable communities.

For residents and business owners affected by the latest flooding, the immediate concern remains the recovery of damaged property and goods, restoration of access and measures to prevent similar losses when heavy rainfall returns.

With flooding affecting several communities across Rivers State, the situation continues to highlight the challenges facing urban areas where drainage and road infrastructure have struggled to cope with intense rainfall.

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One person is feared dead while several others remain trapped after a three-storey building under construction collapsed on Wednesday along Peter Odili Road, a highbrow area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The building reportedly caved in during construction, with eyewitnesses attributing the incident to possible structural defects, although the exact cause had yet to be officially determined as of press time.

Rescue workers have recovered the lifeless body of an unidentified victim from the rubble, while efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue others believed to be trapped beneath the collapsed structure.

Emergency response teams drawn from the Rivers State Government, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and other relevant agencies were deployed to the scene shortly after the incident.

A survivor identified simply as Taiwo disclosed that at least seven workers were trapped when the building suddenly gave way.

“This morning, I went out to buy something. About eight people were working inside, and they said some of them are Hausa people. One of my brothers was inside. Four of them were brought out, but other people are still trapped,” he said.

Officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning, the Ministry of Health, security agencies, and emergency responders were seen coordinating rescue efforts at the site.

Speaking at the scene, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health and Director of Medical Services, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, said emergency teams were mobilised immediately after receiving reports of the collapse.

“We are here on Peter Odili Road following disturbing news this morning that a three-storey building collapsed around here. We quickly mobilised ambulance teams and medical personnel to support rescue operations,” he said.

According to him, two severely injured victims had already been rescued and transferred to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) for urgent medical attention.

“We have activated the Hospital Emergency Medical Services, and the Emergency Unit of RSUTH is fully prepared. NEMA, FRSC, NSCDC and other security agencies are all on ground. All hands are on deck to ensure those still trapped are rescued,” Wachukwu added.

Rescue operations were still ongoing at the time of filing this report as authorities worked to determine the number of victims and the cause of the collapse.

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The Rivers State Government has partnered with Masta Services Ltd through the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPCDA) to develop 2,000 housing units near the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

The project, called PH-Airport City, will be built in phases and designed as Nigeria’s first aerotropolis a modern mini-city where the airport serves as the main economic hub.

Masta Services Managing Director, Ugo Ohuabunwa, said the initiative aims to attract executives back to Port Harcourt, offering world-class homes priced from ₦32 million. He noted that financing support would come from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and Stanbic IBTC Mortgage.

FMBN’s Port Harcourt Branch Manager, Melody Ukwa, said buyers can access mortgage options, including rent-to-own and construction loans with up to 30 years repayment.

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The Rivers State Executive Council has revoked the ₦134 billion contract for the reconstruction of the State Secretariat complex in Port Harcourt, earlier awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) by the former sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ikot Ete Ibas (rtd).

The decision, reached at the Council’s meeting on Thursday, followed a review of contracts awarded during the period of emergency administration. The Council also directed CCECC to refund the ₦20 billion mobilisation fee already paid to the company.

In another development, the Council approved the establishment of a six-member committee chaired by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, to assess and recommend locations for the construction of Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across the state to support external examinations.

Additionally, the flood management committee, also led by the Deputy Governor, was instructed to intensify efforts to address flooding in Port Harcourt and other affected areas. The Council warned residents to stop blocking drainage channels to prevent further flooding.

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A fire outbreak on Monday disrupted activities at the Rivers State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt, sparking panic among civil servants and visitors. The blaze, which affected the ground floor of the Podium Block, was quickly brought under control through a coordinated emergency response.

Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi Brown, confirmed that no casualties were recorded. She commended the swift intervention of the Rivers State Fire Service and its partners  including the Federal Fire Service, the military, and private responders for containing the fire before it spread.

“We were informed of a fire at the right wing of the ground floor of Podium Block and immediately contacted the Rivers State Fire Service, which responded promptly,” Brown said. “We also received quick support from the Federal Fire Service and other partners. It was a combined effort, and thankfully, the situation is now under control.”

Dr. Brown expressed gratitude to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for revamping the state’s fire service infrastructure, noting that his proactive investment in emergency response helped avert a major disaster.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been triggered by an electrical fault. The Head of Service advised civil servants to adhere to strict safety measures by switching off and unplugging electrical appliances after work hours to prevent similar incidents.

She added that Governor Fubara has directed plans for the refurbishment of affected sections of the secretariat, assuring that the government remains committed to ensuring a safe and functional work environment for state employees.

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Port Harcourt tops the list with 85 recorded incidents, mainly involving violent crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping. Maiduguri and Lagos follow with 52 and 32 incidents, respectively. Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, continues to face insurgency-related violence, while Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, battles urban crimes in densely populated areas.

The Makurdi-Jos route was highlighted as a particularly dangerous area due to youth gang violence and farmer-pastoralist conflicts, often resulting in roadblocks and attacks on motorists. Jos, Calabar, and Kano reported 18 to 23 incidents, mostly linked to communal clashes and theft.

In Eleme and Onitsha, 15 incidents each were recorded, with Onitsha’s trade routes noted for theft and related crimes.

The Port Harcourt-Warri route was also flagged as more dangerous than the Abuja-Kaduna highway, largely due to kidnapping for ransom.

SBM Intelligence emphasized infrastructural challenges, such as potholes, poor drainage, and traffic congestion, as factors exacerbating insecurity. The report called for strategic interventions to address these issues and improve safety across the country.

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In a groundbreaking move, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has unveiled plans to transfer the Port Harcourt Refining Company into the hands of private operators.

This strategic decision aims to enhance the refinery’s operational reliability and sustainability while fulfilling the nation’s fuel supply and energy security commitments.

As reported in a statement on the NNPCL’s website, the company is actively seeking partnerships with reputable and credible operations and maintenance firms to take charge of the Port Harcourt Refinery. The contractual scope will encompass critical refinery processes, including long-term and short-term production/operations planning, execution of production and operations, monitoring, reporting, optimization of operations, maintenance execution, health and safety protocols, environmental management, and oversight of minor projects.

READ ALSO: Major Nigerian Oil Marketers Enlist with Dangote Refinery for Product Distribution

To be considered for the engagement, interested companies must demonstrate a robust financial standing, with a minimum average annual turnover of at least $2 billion USD for the fiscal years ending in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

This significant development follows the completion of the rehabilitation work on the Area-5 Plant of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, as announced by the Federal Government on December 21, 2023. The successful mechanical completion marked the conclusion of the first phase of the plant’s renovation, poised to refine 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily post the Christmas break.

Having been operational since 1965, the Port Harcourt Refinery, situated in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region, holds historical significance. The Alesa Eleme refinery complex, located approximately 25 kilometers east of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria, has played a pivotal role in the country’s oil industry.

READ ALSO: Major Nigerian Oil Marketers Enlist with Dangote Refinery for Product Distribution

In March 2021, the Nigerian government allocated GBP 1.08 billion ($1.5 billion) for the extensive renovation and modernization of the refinery complex. With the successful test-run of crude oil supply initiated by the NNPCL, the privatization move is expected to usher in a new era of efficiency and effectiveness in the operations of the Port Harcourt Oil Refinery.

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