Rivers Lawmakers Visit Flood-Hit Communities

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have visited communities affected by severe flooding in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Area as concerns grow over the impact of persistent rainfall across the state.

The lawmakers suspended other legislative activities after Deputy Majority Leader Linda Somiari-Stewart raised the flooding as a matter of urgent public importance during the House’s 55th legislative sitting. (The Guardian Nigeria)

Somiari-Stewart told the House that residents in several communities had suffered damage to homes, property and sources of livelihood, prompting lawmakers to move beyond the Assembly chamber and assess conditions in affected areas themselves. (The Guardian Nigeria)

Rivers Lawmakers Take Flood Assessment to Communities

Following the motion, members of the Assembly voted to visit flood-hit areas in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor.

During the inspection, the lawmakers moved through flooded locations, examined the extent of the damage and spoke with residents about how the rising water had affected their daily lives.

Speaker of the House Martin Amaewhule said the Assembly decided to carry out the physical inspection after receiving distress calls from residents.

He said lawmakers wanted first-hand information about the scale of the problem rather than relying solely on reports reaching the House. (The Guardian Nigeria)

The visit showed that some families had been displaced while flooding had made several roads difficult or impossible to use.

What Residents Are Going Through

Beyond flooded streets, the disaster is affecting homes, businesses and livelihoods.

Somiari-Stewart raised concerns about reports of reptiles entering some submerged homes, warning that the flooding was creating additional safety risks for residents. (Vanguard News)

The impact is also being felt in local markets.

The Guardian reported that traders in areas including Rumuokoro, Rumuokpoku and Eneka had been attempting to salvage food items damaged by floodwater, with some selling soaked rice, beans, garri and yam at heavily reduced prices. (The Guardian Nigeria)

The development illustrates how the flooding is affecting not only housing and movement but also food supplies and the incomes of traders whose goods have been damaged.

Blocked Canals and Drainage Under Scrutiny

One of the major issues identified during the Assembly’s inspection was the condition of drainage infrastructure.

Amaewhule said lawmakers observed that flooding in some locations appeared to be connected to blocked canals and neglected drainage channels, while some other areas were affected by natural water flow. (The Guardian Nigeria)

He called on agencies responsible for drainage maintenance and desalting to ensure waterways are regularly cleared.

The observation has again brought attention to drainage management in Port Harcourt and surrounding communities, particularly as heavy rainfall continues to put pressure on existing infrastructure.

Clearing canals alone may not account for every source of flooding, but the Assembly said blocked waterways were contributing to the problem in some of the areas lawmakers inspected. (The Guardian Nigeria)

Flooding Extends Beyond Port Harcourt

The flooding is not limited to Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor.

Recent reports have identified flood impacts in several other parts of Rivers State, including Ahoada West, Abua/Odual, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Tai, Oyigbo and Andoni. (Channels Television)

Reports from affected communities indicate that families have been displaced, farmlands submerged, businesses damaged and livelihoods disrupted.

The wider spread of the flooding has increased calls for a longer-term approach to flood management rather than responses limited to individual emergencies. (Channels Television)

Rivers Government Promises Relief

The Rivers State Government has also begun assessing affected communities.

Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu said Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed the State Flood Management and Control Committee to inspect flood-ravaged areas and recommend measures to address both the immediate emergency and its underlying causes. (Channels Television)

The government said affected residents would receive relief materials while officials work on measures intended to reduce the impact of future flooding.

The intervention places attention on how quickly assistance reaches displaced and affected households and what measures are eventually taken to improve drainage and flood-control infrastructure.

What the Rivers Assembly Wants Done Next

Following the inspection, the Assembly called for urgent action from agencies responsible for maintaining canals and drainage systems.

Amaewhule said authorities responsible for desilting waterways needed to carry out their duties effectively, particularly in locations where blocked drains had worsened flooding. (Vanguard News)

The Speaker also expressed hope that the state government would take steps to protect residents and property in affected communities.

For residents, however, the immediate concerns remain more basic: getting water out of their homes, restoring access to roads, protecting damaged property and receiving support for livelihoods disrupted by the flooding.

For residents, however, the immediate concerns remain more basic: getting water out of their homes, restoring access to roads, protecting damaged property and receiving support for livelihoods disrupted by the flooding.”

With the rainy season still ongoing, the response from the Rivers State Government, emergency agencies and drainage authorities will determine how quickly affected communities can recover — and whether vulnerable areas can withstand further rainfall.