A’ Ibom Deploys Contractors, Intensifies Desilting As Flood Response Begins

AKWA IBOM,UYO – The Akwa Ibom State Government says it has commenced measures to manage the recent flash flooding in parts of the state by deploying construction firms and relevant agencies to affected communities, while urging residents to complement government efforts by keeping drainage channels free of refuse.

Governor Umo Eno disclosed this while speaking with Government House correspondents at the Victor Attah International Airport on Friday after returning from official engagements outside the state.

The governor’s remarks were contained in a statement shared on social media by his Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udo, and sighted by Truth Live News.

Eno said the government had already activated measures to address the flooding, including directing construction firms and relevant agencies to move into flood-prone communities to evacuate stormwater, desilt blocked drainage channels and restore access to affected areas.

He assured residents that the administration would sustain the desilting of major canals and storm-water channels as part of efforts to reduce the impact of flooding across the state.

The governor, however, stressed that government intervention alone would not eliminate the recurring menace, calling on residents to take responsibility for maintaining drainage channels around their homes and business premises.

“We must work together. Let us stop blocking our drainages with refuse. Government will continue to do its part, but the people also have a responsibility to keep the environment clean,” he said.

Eno attributed much of the urban flooding to indiscriminate disposal of refuse into gutters and drainage channels, lamenting that many residents allow drains around their premises to become clogged while expecting government to clear them.

He said environmental sanitation should be regarded as a civic responsibility rather than a task for government alone, recalling that communities traditionally maintained their surroundings through collective efforts before the establishment of modern sanitation agencies.

The governor also urged residents to heed weather advisories and flood warnings issued by relevant agencies, noting that prevention remains the most effective strategy against flash flooding.

While sympathising with families affected by the recent floods, Eno reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property through continued environmental management and emergency response interventions.