Thousands Helpless In Akwa Ibom As Flood Submerges Homes, Business Premises

By Patrick Titus, Uyo

Flood occasioning Thursday’s (today) early morning heavy rain that lasted for hours, has rendered many homeless while business premises were badly affected in some parts of Akwa Ibom State including Uyo, the state capital.

Among the worst affected parts of the city capital were, Use Offot Village along Nwaniba Road, Ewet Housing Estate and Abak road as well as Nkemba, Uwah and Aka Itiam streets among other residential areas.

Our Correspondent observed that same incident have been reported in other local government areas of the state.

Victims who cried out for help from the state government, shared video clips and pictures of the flooded areas with several houses including churches and houses fully submerged .

One of the victims raised an alarm about the safety of a family after the entire building was submerged.

“I am calling on the state government to come to our aid, I am not sure of the safety of other occupants of the houses, our residence is overrun by the floor,” he stated on the video.

Similar videos depicting the devastation of the flood have showed that many parts have been affected with some residents who managed to salvage their household property sleeping on the streets.

While some residents blamed the flood on poor construction work by contractors handling road projects in the affected areas, experts attributed it to climate change issues.

Emem Ibanga, Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs in the State, Princess Emem Ibanga had during a meeting with Action Aid in Uyo on Wednesday solicited partnership with groups to ameliorate natural disasters and to reduce poverty in the state.