1,000 Anambra flood victims lose N1bn property – Rep

Posted by admin Anambra, Headlines, House, Legislature, State News Thursday, October 4th, 2012

October 5, 2012 by John Ameh and Emmanuel Obe – Punch

At least 1,000 persons displaced in the floods ravaging parts of Anambra State are without food and health facilities, a member of the House of Representatives said on Thursday.

Mr. Ikechukwu Ameke, who represents Anambra-West/Anambra-East Federal Constituency, one of the worst-hit areas, sought urgent intervention from the Federal Government for the victims.

He told journalists in Abuja, “In terms of the losses, I can say over N1bn has been lost; more than 1, 000 people have been displaced and they are without shelter as we speak.

“Most of the buildings and farmlands were submerged.

“They need grains and other services to avert a possible epidemic outbreak and humanitarian crisis.”

The lawmaker, who spoke after returning from an on-the-spot assessment of the situation, said he could not believe that “these were the same villages I visited during the campaign; now, we resort to using canoes.”

Ameke attributed the flooding to a rise in the water level on the River Niger following the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroun.

He blamed the incident on “negligence by federal government,” whom he alleged ignored suggestions to build buffer dams in the country to take in the excess water.

He added, “We are calling on NEMA to come to the aid of these people; the government can also begin to use the Ecological Fund.

“It was for purposes like this that the fund was established; this is the time to use the money.”

He promised to provide emergency relief worth about N2.2m to assist the victims.

Meanwhile, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State has warned those playing politics with the flood disaster to desist from doing so, saying it was one of the worst forms of cynicism.

Obi, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, was reacting to a statement by the Campaign for Democracy suggesting that the governor was making a showmanship of the disaster.

Obienyem said the governor cancelled his trip to Mexico as well as other engagements because of the disaster.

The statement added, “It is unfortunate the way some people inflict unreasonableness on the rest of us. How can somebody simply open his mouth and say the governor was not doing enough, without telling us what he has failed to do.

“As I speak, he visits flooded areas and the displaced on daily basis to see things for himself. He has gone to the affected areas in helicopter, by canoe, in his car as well as by wading through the flood just to identify with the people.

“When his SSG who updates him on minute- to-minute basis raised the possibility of shortage of camps to house the displaced, he promptly directed him to use his Lodge at Onitsha for the purpose if necessary.”wp_posts