While still embarking on consistent sensitisation campaigns across the length and breadth of Rivers State on the management and control of flooding, notable Niger Delta socio-cultural group, the Orashi National Congress, ONC, ably led by Amb Comrade Emeni Ibe, has made a strong call to the Federal Government and Rivers State Government on the need to deploy more funds to genuinely take care of the effects of flooding in the state especially in the four Local Government Areas of Orashi region.
Speaking to the media on Saturday 1st November, 2025, in Port Harcourt, the President General of the Orashi National Congress, Ambassador Ibe said, “Following NiMet predictions and announcements, we have tried to prepare the minds of Rivers people on the likely impact of flooding in our communities. And for some time now, the ONC has been on sensitisation campaigns in all parts of Rivers State especially in the Orashi region”.
“In the course of our sensitisation campaigns, we reliably gathered that the majority of our people, affected by the flooding, have not received Government attention and intervention because 80 per cent of the funds released by Federal Government to mitigate the effects of flooding has been spent by the outgone Administrator with claims of drilling boreholes and putting together IDP camps for displaced people.”
“We do not intend to waste time looking back at the 6 months emergency rule in Rivers State and the reckless waste of funds. Even though we frown at such reckless waste with nothing to show for it, we believe that it is time to move forward.”
“Now, there is a Substantive Committee on flooding headed by the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof Ngozi Odu. We therefore, call on Federal and State Government to urgently intervene and release more funds to genuinely mitigate the effect of the flooding on our people.”
“Having gone round and seen the colossal damages to farm lands, properties and lives, we call on the Federal Government and likewise the State Government, to as a matter of urgency come to the aid of the people adversely affected by the flood. To be able to really make great impact on the situation, money in the region of N10bn should be voted for intervention. We have confidence that the Committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu, will use the funds judiciously for the intended purposes.”