Flood can be described as an overflow of water which submerges dry land and properties. This natural disaster which has wreaked havoc on people in different places did it worst recently. The rain which began as usual in torrents lasted for hours and rendered hundreds of Uyo resident homeless. Properties worth millions of Naira were lost in the tragedy and vehicular movement was affected in those areas.
After the down pour, a visit around the State was that of a cry for help. Areas visited included: Mbiabong Housing Estate, Eniong Offot, Tabernacle road, Nsikak Edouk, Atan Offot and Urua Ekpa Road.
For residents of Mbiabong Housing Estate, the down pour destroyed many of their properties ranging from household items like rug carpet, mattress and refrigerator. The sight of women trying to remove their properties from the flood was sympathetic. The entire area was flooded and the flood brought down a section of the fence.
Residents of Eniong Offot who lamented the continuous neglect of the area by the government were not spared by the heavy down pour as houses were filled with water.
Most residents of Tabernacle road along Ikot Ekpene Road were seen drying their wet items. Mr. Ime Paul a resident of the area said “Whenever it rains heavily, this road is not usable; the houses in this area are always filled with rain water making life unbearable for us”.
Another road inaccessible during heavy rainfall is Nelson Mandela. Movement of vehicles along the road is always halted.
The popular “Urua Ekpa River” is always a nightmare to motorists plying the road. A tailor whose shop is located along the route said “This road is always like this every year. The government really needs to do something about this road”. Whenever it rains heavily, motorists using the road have to divert and use Church road/ Ikot Ekang road before they can link-up Urua Ekpa Junction. A tricycle driver also known as keke said “I don’t put my keke in that road because it can fall or may even spoil”. Another motorist said “that particular spot has been like that for so many years and the government has done nothing to help us”.
It was observed that most parts of the flooded areas had poor drainage system as the gutters were either too small or there was none at all. Also most of the drainages were blocked and this affected the free flow of water.
Despite the N13.6billion invested by the present administration in the pipe jacking flood control technology, residents of Uyo are not still satisfied with the outcome. According to a motorist along Nelson Mandela “it was all over the media that when the underground drainage system is completed, the issue of flood will be reduced, but every year, we experience huge flood in most parts of Uyo”. He said.
Though flood cannot be totally prevented, the risks can be reduced, and the damages it causes can be averted if proper preventive measures are taken by the government and residents of the affected areas.
Government has to proffer solutions to reduce the effects of this perennial problem which has warranted the migration of many from their houses.
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