The people of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, are reeling from the aftermath of yet another flood that has destroyed their homes and means of livelihood. The flood, which is a perennial problem that occurs along Atiku Abubakar Way and its environs, has become a source of agony for residents and business operators in the area.
Speaking with the Media Talk Africa Correspondent, residents expressed their sadness at the loss of property caused by the flooding and called on the government to help mitigate the situation. They are hoping that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pst. Umo Eno, will come to their aid and save them from the recurring menace.
During a visit to the affected area, an automobile engineer, Mr Ndianabasi Isong, lamented that the flood had forced him to stop operating from his workshop for about three days. He recounted the financial loss he had sustained and disclosed that one of his apprentices was wounded and had been rushed to the hospital, where he is receiving treatment.
According to Mr Isong, “We are managing to survive; I’ve lost some customers. You can see my shop, the rain has destroyed everything, our tools that we bought from Lagos for work had been destroyed. One of my boys fell into the water and sustained injuries, he has been in the hospital.
“We have been here for the past 13 years. Before, it wasn’t like this. That is why I am appealing to the government and the people living around here to look for where to dispose of their waste products, and not to dump it here.
“Poor waste management is what is causing the flood because as they dump them, they block the gutters and make it difficult for water to flow freely. I appeal to Pst Umo Eno, our governor, to see what he can do to help us in this area.”
Another trader, Mrs Udeme Udeme Ime, who sells food, expressed her disappointment that everything she cooked for the day would go to waste whenever the area was flooded. She highlighted the impact that the flood has had on her business and how she struggles to make sales due to the devastation caused by the flood.
Mr Rotimi Awobode, the Head of ICT at Beulah Nursery/Primary School, painted a bleak picture of the situation, stating that whenever it rained heavily, the flood would take over the school compound and enter the classrooms. He called on the state government to come to the aid of residents and business owners in the area.
“We have a lot of business centres here,” he said. “We really want to appeal to the government to help us open the gutters and tunnels so that water can pass through easily. If it rains for two days, nobody here will come out.”
It is clear that the residents and traders in Uyo are suffering immensely due to the recurring problem of flooding. The call to the government to provide a lasting solution to this issue is a necessary one.
