Touched by the sufferings of Rivers people, occasioned by the ravaging floods in the State, the Rivers State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, at its 55th Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session, suspended every other matter and resolved on a Motion moved by the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart.
Rising under Order 26 of the Standing Orders of the House, Hon. Stewart called on the House to take urgent steps in tackling the worsening flood situation in the State. The Deputy Majority Leader painted a grave picture of the situation, where residents’ property and means of livelihood have been destroyed, and more worrisome is the report that very poisonous reptiles now occupy submerged homes; adding that as a responsible Assembly, Members cannot watch without doing anything while their constituents go through such live threatening flood. Hon. Stewart prayed the House to grant her prayer by moving to the flood impacted areas and see the severity of the impact.
Before ruling on the Motion, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, expressed his profound sympathy to residents who are wallowing in the flood induced agony, and urged Members to go to their various constituencies, access the situation and ensure that they provide mitigative anodyne for the people in any way they could. And when the Speaker put the question, Members in unison voted in the affirmative to visit some flood-ravaged areas in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of the State to access the level of damage.
Flowing from the resolution, Members moved through several flooded areas, assessed the level of destruction and listened to the harrowing experiences of residents who have been battling the disaster in recent days.
Addressing journalists after the visit, Rt. Hon. Amaewhule said the decision to embark on the inspection was prompted by a Motion adopted by the House and the numerous distress calls received from constituents across Rivers State. He said, “As an Assembly, we deemed it necessary to move around the streets of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt to see things for ourselves. What we have seen clearly shows that flooding requires urgent attention.”
The Speaker lamented that many families have been displaced, while several roads have become inaccessible, describing the situation as a major concern that demands immediate government intervention.
Rt. Hon. Amaewhule explained that the Assembly observed that some of the flooded locations were caused by blocked canals and neglected drainage channels, while others were the result of natural water flow. He insisted that agencies responsible for desilting drains must be alive to their responsibilities to prevent avoidable flooding.
The Speaker expressed optimism that the Rivers State Government would rise to the occasion and take the necessary steps to tackle the flooding challenge and protect lives and property across the State.