TO reduce the trauma associated with flood that recently ravaged some communities, the Delta State government has distributed relief materials to flood victims.
The Commissioner in charge of Bureau for Special Duties, Hon. Chika Ossai led a team of officials of the state government and interventionist agencies to personally distribute the materials at Isselegu, Ndokwa East local government area and other communities in the state, said the relief materials were strictly for victims of the 2015 flood.
While sympathizing with the victims of the flood, the Commissioner said, Governor Okowa's administration was interested in their post-flood activities, stating that effects of the flood should not deter them from living their lives as the relief materials which included food stuffs, farm implements and seedlings were to assist them.
He used the occasion to warn against erection of structures on water channels and any activity which could lead to blockage of water channels and drains.
According to him, Nigerians and Deltans in particular should adopt good approach to protecting the environment and reduce disaster, stating that people should not always wait for government to clear their drains before they imbibe good living habits.
He disclosed that structures erected on water channels stands the risk of been pulled down by government and urged the people not to build their houses on water channels as they also face risk of been the first victims of flood.
"Governor Okowa does not want our people to suffer, things are hard but, he directed that relief materials to be given to those affected by flood to ease their sufferings; the people too should help themselves by not building on water channels; this is important because anybody that is living on water channel will be the first victim of flood," he said.
Hon. Ossai also, used the occasion to call on the government of Nigeria and Cameroon to devise means of proffering lasting solution to the flood which was as a result of release of water from a dam, saying that the effect is quantifiable.
"It is unfortunate that our people are victims of water that was released in another country, what can we do to alleviate their suffering? We cannot do much because, can you imagine the effect of been displaced from your home? We have experts in Nigeria and Cameroon and they should come together and look at permanent solutions," adding, "if it is as a result of climate change, we should also, look at ways of reducing the effects, more dams can be constructed to check the effect of the water, because it is wrong for our people who lives in riverine communities to be traumatized every rainy season."
The Chairman of Ndokwa East local government area, Mrs Nkechi Chukwura thanked the proactive steps taken by Hon. Ossai which reduced the after-effects of the flood on its victims.
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