“The flood threatening Awka is caused by government’s poor approach to a sustainable environment. ” —Ebuka Onyekwelu
On Wednesday night, a heavy downpour in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, left many homes flooded. So many houses around the capital city were nearly submerged by flood water. Several vehicles were submerged in many compounds, while some people were temporarily sacked from their homes as the flood took over their homes. Around the city centre, nearly all parts of Awka are susceptible to this unkind experience. Parts of Agu-Awka, Awka GRA, Club Road, Okpuno, Ifite, parts of Amawbia, Obinagu, Ngozika estate, around Udoka estate, Kwata area, Unizik junction, and many more. Nowhere is safe from flooding.
Friday’s experience highlights the seriousness of this problem. After rainfall for less than ten minutes, the entire city was flooded. The biggest market in Awka called Eke Awka, was not spared. Within only a few minutes, Eke Awka market was filled with refuse, with all manner of trash jumping to the road from all corners of the drainage that are fully blocked by the few-minute rainfall. Yet, markets in Anambra state are known to pay all manner of levies for refuse collection. Business and shop owners in all markets pay all kinds of taxes for refuse evacuation. Even more, the current administration was emphatic on urban renewal and committed to reforms that will reshape Awka to a modern capital city. More than two years later, Awka has further deteriorated. Only recently, a popular cleric in Anambra complained that sights of refuse has become a notable character of Anambra State under the present administration.
Flooding in Awka is enabled by a number of factors including small drainage incapable of evacuating flood waters. Unfortunately, some new drainages under construction by the current administration in Anambra State are also very small. A case in point is the ongoing construction of a link road between Awka the capital city and Mgbakwu in Awka North local government. Both the road under construction and the drainage are far inadequate towards addressing the need for Awka’s expansion; a role which neighbouring towns like Mgbakwu are already playing. The drainage is small and will only extend the flood around Okpuno area in Awka further down. Fundamentally, the thinking behind such a project fails basic sustainability tests.
There is also persistent bad behavior in the careless disposal of nylon bags and plastic bottles.
More worrisome is the number of citizens who are totally bereft of the impact of their bad behaviours on their environment. Whenever it rains, it is usually the perfect time for people to dump their refuse. It is a popular practice in markets and around many residential areas in Anambra State. Once it rains, people bring out their refuse and dump them inside gutters. These wastes go to block drainages and cause them to overflow. There is also persistent bad behavior in the careless disposal of nylon bags and plastic bottles. Many people do this without recourse to its adverse consequences on their environment.
The flood that is threatening Awka is caused by the poor government’s approach to a sustainable environment. Small drainages and the inability of relevant government agencies to take care of refuse have continued to foster a culture of regular disposal of refuse inside waterways when it rains. On the other hand, people have continued to let down their environment through careless disposal of refuse, causing an incredible amount of dirt around the environment when it rains because of blocked drainages.
The government must now take its pledge to urban renewal seriously beyond tokenism. Small drainages are not sustainable and there is no justification for the government to continue to construct small drainages in Awka, the state capital. Several government agencies in charge of refuse collection must discharge their duties with a more focused attention to detail. The government agency in charge of desilting of drainages must be up to its responsibilities. More so, efforts must be put into public enlightenment of the people, so that they are empowered to be able to take more responsibility for their environment and its safety. If these are not done with the speed they call for attention, every drop of rain will continue to cause incredible damage to the people, the environment, and all activities within the capital city of Anambra State.
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