Flood ravages Ebonyi villages, famers seek FG's help
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Fidelis Nweze, at the Ukeh River Dam in Mpu, Enugu State on Monday. Photo: EBSG
Farmlands in five communities in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have been submerged by flood.
The flood was caused by the blockade of a dam being constructed by the Federal Government in Npu,Anuri LGA of Enugu state.
The affected communities are Ameke, Okue, Amaokwe, Ngwogwo and Obodo.
Governor David Umahi,who raced to the site of the dam on learning of the development on Monday, ordered a comprehensive report of farms and cash crops destroyed by the flood.
Noting that the damage was huge, Umahi said the report would be sent the Federal government with a view to assisting the state and farmers whose means of livelihood had been severely affected.
He said, ” We came to the point of the Ukeh River Dam that is being constructed by the Federal Government in Npu,Anuri LGA of Enugu State.
“A comprehensive report will be carried out so that we can seek Federal Government’s assistance not only to the state but to the farmers whose agricultural produce have been seriously damaged.”
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ivo LGA ,Chief O. Ude,who accompanied Governor Umahi to the site of the dam said the blockade caused water to overflow backwards, thereby destroying the farmlands in the affected communities.
“If you look back from where we are standing, you will see a river coming down from there,that is Ivo,and this river is Ukeh.So the rivers meet here and it is from here that the contructors created an embarkment that makes water to flow backwards.”
The chairman of Ngwogwo Community Development Union, Mr. Johnson Ukpai, lamented that the fllod had destroyed agricultural produce like yams,cassava, rice,Maize and cocoyam.
He pleaded with the Federal government to come to their rescue.
“The blockage of dam which resulted in the over flow of flood to this our community has caused enormous damage to this our community. Our crops like,Yams,Cassava,Rice,Maize,Coco yams has been destroyed.”
Youths of the area were seen displaying cassava tubbers which had decayed due to the impact of the flood.
Barr. Augustine Ossai, a liaison officer in Ivo legislative council, also lamented the damages done by the flood and called on the Federal Government and the National Emergency Management Agency to immediately come to the assistance of farmers in the area.