Fubara Approves N7m Aid for 35 Flood-Hit Families

Rivers Gov. Siminalayi Fubara has approved ₦7 million in cash assistance for 35 households affected by recent flooding at Edmac Estate, Mercy Land, Nkpolu Extension, Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt.

The Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Rivers State Flood Prevention and Management Committee, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, disclosed this on Monday when she received a delegation of residents of the estate at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

Odu said the governor approved ₦200,000 for each of the 35 households, following the devastating impact of the flood, which forced some residents to evacuate their homes.

She said the state government had earlier provided food and other relief items to affected residents and enrolled them in the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme to ensure access to healthcare.

“His Excellency has said that beyond giving you food items and providing health insurance, we should look for a little stipend to give to a certain number, especially the most vulnerable people,” Odu said.

The deputy governor said the first phase of the intervention would benefit 35 households, adding that beneficiaries had already begun receiving alerts for the ₦200,000 payment.

Odu assured residents that the state government would work with the Ministries of Environment and Works to identify permanent solutions to the recurring flooding in the area.

She said the low-lying nature of the estate contributed to its vulnerability to flooding, while noting that some of the problems were also human-induced.

The deputy governor urged residents to complement government efforts by keeping their surroundings clean and avoiding practices that could obstruct waterways and drainage channels.

According to her, recent desilting and clearing of culverts in the area had already improved the flow of water.

Odu reaffirmed that the state government’s flood intervention programme was open to all residents, irrespective of their state of origin.

“We are not saying it should only be Rivers people. We are not saying that it should only be indigenes. We are doing it for everybody that resides in Rivers State,” she said.

She commended members of the Flood Prevention and Management Committee, particularly officials of the Ministries of Environment and Works, for their commitment to implementing the governor’s directive.

Odu assured residents that the committee would continue to identify areas requiring urgent intervention and provide assistance to communities severely affected by flooding across the state.

Responding, the Head of Security in the estate, Mr Hilarry Uba, commended the state government for its intervention and relief efforts, saying the assistance had lifted the spirits of families affected by the flood.

“On behalf of the residents and the people of this area, I bring our warm appreciation to the Government, especially the leadership, for coming to our aid at this difficult time,” Uba said.

Also speaking, an American humanitarian residing in the estate, Mr Cliff Jarrell, thanked the state government for its response to the plight of affected residents.

“We want to sincerely appreciate you personally, your very active team, top Government functionaries gathered here and the Executive Governor of this State,” Jarrell said.

A widow and flood victim, Mrs Amarachi Echele, also thanked Fubara for extending what she described as the “milk of human kindness” to affected residents.