Floods: Bangladesh in Warri
The current tidal surge of torrential
rains in Warri defies climatological classification. As it were, meteorologists in their weather
forecasts used to tell us that from June to September there will be rain in
Warri and from October to May will be dry season. But now rain falls all through the year in Warri, giving
rise to intense flooding.
The situation in Warri could be likened to that of
the monsoon rains in Bangladesh, which has led to the Bay of Bengal overflowing
its banks and the burying of the city of Dhaka underneath its floods. The story
is the same in parts of china, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Hanoi, Vietnam and
Cambodia, all in Asia. The story
is the same in virtually every part of Delta State, nay the Niger Delta.
The consequence has been massive destruction of lives
and property. The floods in Warri
is further compounded by the absence of a central drainage system and
prevalence of blocked culverts. On
the 24th of June 2004 floods destroyed properties worth millions of naira along
and behind Polokor road area, Ugborikoko, Iyara, Okandaji, Omoine, Enemejuwa
and Father Hilly Streets.
We commend the Delta State Government for belatedly
setting up an “Eleven-man Committee” to look into this horrendous
deluge. The floods are currently
taking their toll on the people and ravaging the city. In respect of Warri, we suggest that
the Delta State Government should visit the 1965 Warri channelisation and
drainage channel should run from West chanelisation Plan suggest in part, that
the drainage channel should run from West Minister Dredging River Ogunu through
Warri Rice Farm, behind Warri Prisons through the Ogboru Bridge, Erejuwa Bridge
to Father Hilly, Okandaji, behind Odemi’s park lane hotel to Omoine,
Old-welfare road to Chief Alawuru’s culverts close to old Ames Transport
Service and then to the Warri River etc.
The on-going dualisation of some roads in Warri is a
step in the right direction, but the roads cannot stand the litmus-test of time
if they are exposed to the erosional and corrosive effects of floods. What Warri needs now, and urgently too,
is the implementation of a comprehensive channelisation and drainage plan to
forestall a disastrous floods of Ogunpa proportion. We hope Governor Ibori and his Eleven-man Committee will do
something to stop Bangladesh from coming to Warri.
Bobson Gbinije,
Bogep Oils Ltd,
Warri
