Rainy season has indeed become a season of nightmare and frustration for the residents of Ogidi community, Idemili North local government of Anambra state following unprecedented flood menace in the area.
One of the residents of the community, Ezeilo Gabriel told WITHIN NIGERIA that the dilapidated condition of the road has become a source of worry and disappointment for the state in general and Ogidi community in particular.
“We are now living like a community without a governor. This road links us to other communities. But with this level of flood and dilapidation, it has become difficult for us to have much things to do with other communities.”
Narrating further, Mr.Ezeilo said that “we have cried to the state government for long but the help is not coming at all. We are by this medium appealing to the state and federal governments to help us repair Ogidi road to avoid the flood menace in the community.”
However, as the appeal continued to fall on deaf ears, last week, residents of the community took to the street, calling on the government to take urgent action on the flood.
According to the protesters the flooding have continued to disrupt daily life, damage property, and stall economic activities across the area.
The protesters which were made up of youths, traditional leadership, and community stakeholders.
They described the impacts of the flood as daily increasing, pointing out that the situation is equally becoming unbearable.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered during the peaceful protest, they appealed to the government to expedite action on the flood menace.
They were also wielding some placards with inscriptions like”Soludo, save us from drowning,” Save Ogidi’s soul” and others.
According to the protesters, the worsening condition of roads, homes, farmlands, and business areas during rainfall periods.
They equally for the survival of the community, the safety of children, and the need for urgent action to prevent further environmental destruction.
Chris-Obi-Okafor is the President of Ogidi Youths.
He told newsmen during the protest that the community is facing a serious humanitarian challenge caused by recurring flood incidents.
According to him “farmlands and economic trees have been destroyed, businesses are collapsing, and movement within the community has become difficult due to submerged roads.”
He further stressed that “the education of children is being disrupted as flooding prevents school attendance during rainfall periods, raising fears about the long-term impact on the community’s future development.”
Okafor called on both the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Anambra State Government led by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to urgently intervene and provide lasting solutions.
In his remarks, the traditional ruler of Ogidi, Igwe Alexander Onyido, also expressed concern over the situation and observed that heavy rainfall has continued to flood major roads and market areas thereby disrupting commercial activities and displacing residents.
He also added that the situation has created mobility challenges and economic setbacks for the community.
The monarch assured that he would further engage the state government on the need for immediate intervention to prevent loss of life and reduce the growing impact of the flooding.
Community leaders maintained that the appeal remains peaceful and rooted in urgent survival needs, urging authorities at all levels to respond swiftly to prevent further deterioration of living conditions in Ogidi.
