Flooding has displaced three communities in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom state, while other parts of the state face the threat of submersion.
The affected areas include Nung Obio Enang along Stadium Road, Urua Ekpa, and Afaha Oku villages, where intense rainfall has caused severe flooding, rendering many homeless.
In Nung Obio Enang, situated between L&L Hotel and Qua Ibom Church Primary School on Idoro Road, at least 32 houses have been destroyed.
Our correspondent gathered that landlords and tenants have sought refuge with relatives after being forced to flee their homes.
One of the victims, Etop Effiong, said that flooding has been a recurring issue for the past 12 years.
According to him, “The problem began after Julius Berger constructed the stadium road during Senator Godswill Akpabio’s administration, raising the road level without providing proper drainage to redirect the water away from residential compounds.
“During heavy rainfall and throughout the rainy season, we have to quit our houses to stay with neighbours for one or two weeks before the water dries up in my house.
“This is my predicament and other residents of the area for many years now. This house can collapse anytime”
The wife of the victim simply identified as Eka Esther said she has lost almost all her clothes to the flood each time it occurs especially in the night.
Eka Esther who was visibly crying said the tricycle used by the husband for commercial purposes had been destroyed by the flood.
“Last night I didn’t sleep. Look at my husband’s tricycle there, it has spoilt beyond repairs. We can’t repair it anymore. It was our source of livelihood. Now, no house to live in and no means of livelihood all because of the flood.
“Governor Umo please come and rehabilitate us and others, check the flood here because we don’t have anywhere to live with my children throughout this coming rainy season.
Another resident Edem Udotong who lives behind the community primary school said pupils cannot walk to their school.
“This morning, I cried for one little girl who fell into the flood water but I rushed to rescue him. Who knows whether he would have drowned? “
The youth president of the community, Nsikak Eddie has called on Governor Umo Eno to extend his heart of generosity to victims of flood in the community and embark on a flood control project in the area.
He said: “My brother please, let Governor Umo Eno show us mercy. The people here have deserted their homes.”
In Afaha Oku villages, more than 50 houses have been carried away by the flood.
The village council therefore appealed to Governor Umoh to intervene as the flood was fast encroaching sliding down some portions of the community.
Effects of the flood are visible along Akan Eton Street and other adjourning streets causing severe hardship and total displacement of residents
In a letter titled ‘Save Our Souls’ by the village council of Afaha Oku villages signed by Eteidung Emmanuel Eka and secretary, Sipol Cosmos Ebong and made available to our correspondent, the community leaders said the flood has threatened the foundation of the village as other buildings have collapsed.
The village council which is the host community of the University of Uyo therefore passionately appeals to Governor Umo Eno to award the contract to rehabilitate the affected roads for residents to return to their houses.
“We write to remind you of our earlier report to the State Government on the erosion menace affecting the Afaha Oku Community in Uyo Local Government Area which has submerged some buildings and many buildings badly threatened to collapse.
“The worst affected areas are Akpan Eton Street, Nabor Street, and their sojourning streets.
Akan Eton Street was motorable but today, it is condemned and turned into a very bad gully with some buildings submerged in it.
One of the affected landlords, Mr Titus Jerome Udoh, a retiree who had vacated his home said his house, located at No8 Akpan Eton Street, off Ekpene Ntan Street was threatened by erosion when a construction company diverted flood water from Urua Ekpa and its environs into Akpan Eton.
“I was forced out of my house as a result of the approaching threat of erosion, which has turned Akpan Eton Street into a ravine, and the entrance of my house was badly affected. Hence, I relocated and stayed with my dependent family members in a rented apartment.
“You can imagine what life has become for me and my dependent relatives in a rented apartment for almost five years now. So please I am appealing to His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno to please, do anything within his power to restore us to our home”.
In Urua Ekpa, residents have experienced perennial floods for many years causing them to relocate to other places while their houses submerged in the flood.
One of the victims who spoke amidst tears said the condition of the area became worst when the state government awarded flood control contract to Benest Engineering; a local vendor who messed up the project and throw the entire Urua Ekpa community into irredeemable flood.
“The contractor lacks competence, technical know- how and necessary skills to handle the project.
“The state government could not terminate the contract and re-award it to a more competent vendor.
“Now Urua Ekpa road is impassable while residents have relocated.
“We plead with the state government to come to our rescue and resettle residents of the Urua Ekpa community,” he said. (Nation)