26/10/2022
EGI FLOOD MANAGEMENT MEDIA SUB-COMMITTEE
UPDATES OF THE FLOOD MONITORING AND REPORTING AS AT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2022
A SPECIAL TOUR OF FLOODED EGI COMMUNITIES BY A COMBINED TEAM OF GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS DRAWN FROM LEADING NATIONAL DAILIES, MEMBERS OF THE EGI FLOOD MANAGEMENT MEDIA SUB-COMMITTEE AND CHAIRMAN, NIGERIAN ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (NES), RIVERS STATE CHAPTER, DR. KINGSLEY NWOGBIDI
*EGI FLOOD SITUATION REPORT AS AT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2022*
In keeping with the mandate given to them by the leadership of the Egi People's Assembly (EPA), to bring the precarious situation the flooding of Egi Communities have created for the people of the area to the whole wide world for support and intervention, the Media Team on Tuesday, October 25, organized a tour of flooded Egi communities across the Zones.
The combined team was made up of seasoned journalists drawn from Nigeria's leading national dailies with wider reach and readership - both online and offline.
They include:
- TONY JOHN (THE SUN NEWSPAPER).
- BLESSING IBUNGE (THIS DAY NEWSPAPER).
- ROSEMARY NWUZI (THE NATION NEWSPAPER).
NOTE: The trio shall syndicate the report of the tour to other national dailies, who could not join us, due to other official engagements.
These news outlets include, but not limited to:
- News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
- Vanguard Newspaper.
In addition, the mission was complemented by the presence of the Rivers State Chairman of the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES) and Chairman, Egi Flood Management Environment Sub-Committee, Dr. Kingsley Nwogbidi.
The media tour took us to almost all the communities in Egi land except UMU-OBOR Zone, due to logistics challenges beyond our control.
However, we plan to visit and cover the Zone and Egita and Akabta Communities (which we could not access from Obiozimini Community due the flood submerged road), in USO-OZIMINI Zone in the coming days, as soon as funds are made available to the Committee.
1. * FLOOD WATER LEVEL
The water is emptying from UMU-OBOR Communities down to ETITI Communities, while ETITI Communities are supplying USO-OZIMINI Communities as the water level keep rising at USO-OZIMINI Communities
2. *IDPs CAMP SITUATION* REPORT
* AKABUKA CAMP .
- Mrs Catherine Nwokocha who spoke ONBELF of the flood victims, stated that they are suffering due to insufficient supply of BASIC NECESSITIES, as they are in need of foams, raw food items, mosquito nets, insecticides, etc., as the few supplied are not enough to get to everyone in the Camp.
As a result of this, many people are sleeping on the BARE FLOOR. This is causing SEVERE COLD among them and capable of leading to WIDESPREAD sicknesses. She disclosed that the cooked food given to them is too small as it can't be okay for a child to eat talk more of adults.
HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES
The Nurse in charge of the Camp, Mrs Saturday Ojum notified the media team that TotalEnergies brought some drugs which have been exhausted.
she said that she is still expecting new supply of drugs from TotalEnergies.PREGNANT WOMEN ON CAMP
Mrs. Ojum disclosed that there are seventeen (17) pregnant women in the GSS, AKABUKA CAMP..
She is taking care of them within available resources.
She and noted that there is a need for SUFFICIENT FEEDING, to enable her to prescribe the appropriate drugs/medication for them.
VISIT BY NEMA
Mr Sunday Izeogu, CAMP SECRETARY informed the visiting MEDIA TEAM that the Rivers State Environmental Agency team visited the Camp on Monday (October 24, 2022) to carry out an assessment. He said that they promised to come back.
A REPORTED CASE OF ATTEMPTED KIDNAP, R**E OF A MENTALLY UNSTABLE TEENAGE GIRL
Their was a case of ATTEMPTED KIDNAP BUT ACTUAL R**E in the CAMP
THANKFULLY, the culprit was apprehended and handed over to operatives of the OSPAC for appropriate sanctions
It was gathered that the culprit lured the victim who is said of unstable mental condition out of the CAMP.
But a search party was swiftly organized. They spread out their dragnets around the area and the caught the criminal RED HANDED in the act!
DEMOGRAPHICS OF IDPs
According to the CAMP COORDINATOR, the total number of persons in the AKABUKA IDPs CAMP is 1,210 as at date.
However, we were unable to confirm this figure.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is absolutely necessary to ascertain the number of IDPs in EACH CAMP for PROPER PLANNING and ADEQUATE CARE GIVING.
Most of them are earnestly yearning for the receding of the flood to enable them to return to their homes.
Notwithstanding the difficulties they suffer, they have commended TotalEnergies for their hospitality, but PASSIONATELY appeal to them to STEP UP THEIR GAME and PROACTIVELY look into their GENUINE COMPLAINTS OF INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF FOOD and general welfare and seek for increase of their food supply.
* EREMA IDPs CAMP.
Mr Ogbuku Chinedu said that TotalEnergies have done well for coming to their aid by bringing 50 foams, 50 mosquito nets and insecticides.
But he said that the supply is not enough, as there are lots of people without access to those things.
*NON SUPPLY OF THE DONATED RAW FOODSTUFFS
T.OBSERVATION:
The visiting MEDIA TEAM was shocked to learn that the RAW FOODSTUFFS donated for the purpose of feeding the IDPs don't get to the IDPs CAMPS!
Even the cooked food supplied by TotalEnergies don't get to everyone in this camp.
*DEMOGRAPHICS REPORT
We gathered that there are 1,500 persons accommodated in the EREMA IDPs CAMP.
There are also complaints insufficient supply of potable water anytime they are supplied the cooked food, as only 50 bags of pure water are supplied daily, which is GROSSLY INADEQUATE for the number of persons.on camp.
We were informed by Mr. Chinedu that they received 30 foams and 30 bed spread from the ONELGA Council.
CAMP COORDINATOR'S REPORT
Mr America Stephen, the camp Coordinator told us that a lot of people in the EREMA IDPs CAMP are VERY SICK.
*PLIGHTS OF PREGNANT WOMEN ON CAMP
Some pregnant women in this camp sleep on the bare floor and THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR THEIR HEALTH CONDITION.
*A CHILD SUFFERING FROM WHOOPING COUGH NEEDS IMMEDIATE/URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION!
On our arrival at the second wing of this IDPs CAMP, we met a TOUCHING SITUATION, where a child was throwing up and vomiting all the food he ate, we called the mother to ascertain the problem with the obviously sick child.
His mother told us that the child has been sick for days now and he is two years and few months old.
when asked, Mrs Priscilla Ogbuku, the Nurse assigned by TotalEnergies to man the camp disclosed that the sick child is suffering from whooping cough.
She also said that she has been attending to the sick in the Camp, but noted that for some days now, there has been no medical supplies.
She however informed that they are expecting drugs from TotalEnergies any moment from now.
*PREGNANT WOMEN ON CAMP
Mrs. Ogbuku said that they have 8 pregnant women in the camp.
She listed the items needed for good sanitary condition of the Camp to include items such as hypo, Dettol, etc.
* ON THE QUALITY OF FOOD
She lamented THE POOR QUALITY OF SOUP giving to those staying in the camp and appealed to TotalEnergies to IMPROVE on the quality of food supplied to the IDPs.
* OGBOGU IDPs CAMP
*DEMOGRAPHICS
The CAMP COORDINATOR, Mr Samuel Ajie said that there are about 2,000 in the Ogbogu Camp. He complained about the food, saying that it is grossly inadequate and pleaded with TotalEnergies to review the food supply arrangement.
He said they received 50 foams, 50 mosquito nets, and insecticides.
*LARGE PART OF THE CAMP NOT FIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION
The main building of the OGBOGU IDPs CAMP, is NOT FIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION!
On our arrival at this camp, we quickly noticed that a large portion of the main building housing majority of the IDPs has been deroofed.
This situation inevitably exposes those accommodated therein to the vagaries of nature.
Invariably, they are neither shielded from heavy downpours that have been prevalent as well as the scorching sun whenever it shines.
Worse still, there are neither doors nor windows, thus leaving the hapless IDPs at the mercy of unrestrained invasion of mosquitoes, reptiles and unmitigated cold.
As a result of the PATENTLY UNSAFE CONDITION OF THIS CAMP, the CAMP COORDINATOR has called for attention
to the reroofing of the building camp to end their agony when it rains. This is because the people suffer untold hardship when it rains, as the roof is open
LACK OF GOVERNMENT'S PRESENCE
The Camp Coordinator said that since then arrival at the camp after being dislodged from their homes by the rampaging killer floods, THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THE PRESENCE OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT NOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S EMERGENCY AGENCY.
We gathered that the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) brought 30 foams and mosquito nets.
He insisted that NEMA has not visited the IDPs CAMP.
*SAFE DELIVERY OF TWO PREGNANT WOMEN
While the people of Egi Kingdom grapple with the sundry debilitating frustrations induced by the inundation of their homes and farmlands by the dangerous floods thus forcing many to seek refuge in IDPs CAMPS, there are SOME CHEERING NEWS here.
Two new born babies were delivered in the OGBOGU IDPs CAMP on Monday, October 24, 2022.
One Mrs. Oluchi Ben who hails from Ogbogu Community gave birth to a bouncing baby boy in the Ogbogu IDPs CAMP.
Sadly after safe delivery, there is no postnatal medication, over 24 hours on!
Similarly, another IDP, Mrs. Esther Isaac from Obite Community also gave birth on Monday night to a bouncing baby boy.
Just like her counterpart, Mrs. Ben, she bis yet to receive any antenatal medication since delivery.
However, the CHEERY NEWS is that; both nursing mothers and their children are sound and healthy, to the glory of God!
*COMPLAINTS OF INADEQUATE PROVISION OF FOOD
The CAMP COORDINATOR lamented the inadequate supply of foodstuffs to the CAMP.
He said that they were giving raw foodstuffs two weeks ago and it was only Indomie noodles.
He disclosed that after that supply, .they have not seen nor received any other raw foodstuffs.
*HEALTHCARE SITUATION
The nurse in charge at the camp, Mr. Edwin Nwekeala said they lack drugs/medication in the CAMP. He said that there no drugs left with him to take care of sick persons in the CAMP.
* OBITE IDPs CAMP.
The Nurse in charge, Mr. Anele Ogbuku, said that everything in the OBITE IDPs CAMP was in order.
However, he disclosed that there are no drugs available at the time of our ON-THE-SPOT assessment tour for attending to the healthcare needs of those in the camp.
He however informed that they are expecting drugs supply from TotalEnergies, as they promised.
*THEFT IN THE OBITE IDPs CAMP
The Nurse in charge, Mr. Anele Ogbuku informed us that a a woman complained that a bed which was given to her has been stolen last Friday when the ugly incident of theft occurred at the OBITE CIVIC CENTRE.
* UMU-OBOR ZONE
*CHALLENGES ENGENDERED BY WITHDRAWAL OF BOATS, ETC. BY TOTALENERGIES FROM THE AKABUKA-OBOBURU ROUTE
, The humanitarian crisis faced by the people of the UMU-OBOR ZONE have been exacerbated by the OBVIOUSLY HASTY WITHDRAWAL OF BOATS, ETC. by the management of TotalEnergies, thus making movement in and out of the the Communities in that Zone VERY DIFFICULT!
There is therefore an URGENT need for a REVIEW/REVERSAL of the DECISION/ACTION, as the action is ALREADY HURTING OUR ALREADY TRAUMATIZED AND OVER STRETCHED people of UMU-OBOR ZONE.
This action by TotalEnergies has KEPT THE PEOPLE STRANDED, AS THEY ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO PAY N400 FROM AKABUKA TO OBOBURU COMMUNITY.
THAT MEANS, A RETURN TRIP to and fro is now N800 PER HEAD on a COMMERCIAL CANOE!!
We urge EPA leadership to diplomatically engage TotalEnergies' management to review this policy thrust, as it is COUNTERPRODUCTIVE at this moment.
* AHIAHU AND USO-OZIMINI ZONES
During our visit to these zones, we found that OBUKEGI, OBIOZIMINI AND EREMA (PARTICULARLY THE EREMA-ITU-OGBA AXIS), are flooded.
Same goes for the OBIOZIMINI-AKABTA-EGITA SECTION if the road.
In the areas covered around that section, we observed that the WATER LEVEL is RISING.
3 *RESCUE AND EVACUATION*
THERE IS NO RECORDED RESCUE AND EVACUATION IN THE PERIOD COVERED BY THIS REPORT.
4. *SAFETY MEASURE
IT IS STILL ADVISED THAT WHILE WE ANTICIPATE THE GRADUAL EBBING OF THE FLOOD WATER AS CAN BE EVIDENCED FROM THE DRYING UP OF THE DELUGE ON THE AKABUKA-IHUAJE STRETCH OF THE AHOADA-OMOKU ROAD,
IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT A HIGH LEVEL OF ALERT AND SAFETY CONSCIOUSNESS BE OBSERVED/MAINTAINED BY ALL AND SUNDRY, PLEASE.
Thank you for your kind attention.
ISSUED BY:
EGI FLOOD MANAGEMENT MEDIA SUB-COMMITTEE.
Abraham Dukuma Esq.
CHAIRMAN.
