The Rivers State Government has begun distributing relief items to residents affected by the recent flooding in Oyigbo and Eleme Local Government Areas.
The exercise, which commenced in Afam, the headquarters of Oyigbo LGA, on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, was led by the State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the 2026 Flood Prevention and Management Committee, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu.
Prof. Odu said the intervention was designed to ease the difficulties faced by communities affected by the floods and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to supporting residents during emergencies.
She noted that flooding affects residents irrespective of political affiliation, stressing that “flood does not know party.”
According to her, the state government established the Flood Prevention and Management Committee to coordinate responses to flooding across affected communities, with intervention teams already deployed to areas including Eleme.
The Deputy Governor attributed the recent flash floods partly to blocked drainage systems and waterways, particularly areas obstructed by refuse and illegal structures.
She appealed to residents to keep drainage channels around their homes and communities free of debris and to report structures blocking waterways to relevant authorities.
Odu also praised the Chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Council, Hon. Okechukwu Akara Nwaogu, for his response to the flooding, particularly the relocation of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp from a flooded school to the council headquarters.
Nwaogu, in his remarks, thanked Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the swift intervention and assistance provided to residents affected by the disaster.
He explained that the council had created an IDP camp for displaced residents, noting that the facility previously used for such purposes during earlier floods had also been submerged.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has assured residents of Eleme that their losses and difficulties arising from the recent flooding are receiving attention.
Odu gave the assurance while presenting relief materials to displaced residents in the local government area.
Speaking through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. Inyingi S. I. Brown, the Deputy Governor said Governor Fubara sympathised with the affected residents and was committed to addressing the challenges confronting the area.
She disclosed that specialists from the Flood and Erosion Department of the Ministry of Environment had been deployed to work with the Eleme Local Government Council to examine the area’s flooding patterns and recommend appropriate measures.
The relief materials were formally handed over to the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, Hon. Obarilormate Ollor, who was represented at the event by his Vice Chairman, Hon. Virtue Ekee.
Ekee expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for responding to the plight of flood victims and providing assistance to affected communities.
