Delta News

Delta: Polobubo community laments hardship, hunger over devastating flood, seeks govt intervention

Oil-rich Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta state, has called on the Federal and State Governments for intervention over the devastating flood occasioned by extreme rainfall.

Dr. Bright Abulu, President-General, of the community made the call in a statement signed and sent to Gbaramatu Voice on Sunday. Adding that the entire Community has been submerged, that they can see only some rooftops.

He lamented that the flood has completely taken over, stressing that what they can see and feel now is untold hardship and hunger steering them in the face.

The President-General in the statement titled ‘AN URGENT APPEAL TO DELTA STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS: COME TO OUR AID AND SAVE US FROM DEVASTATING FLOOD OCCASIONED BY EXTREME RAINFALL,’ noted that they are obviously in an emergency situation that the government of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the Federal Government, and their relevant agencies must intervene, to urgently come in to ameliorate the suffering of the people.

The statement reads in part; “This is the worst in the history of our community! We have lost practically everything to this flood. Unquantifiable property have been lost and people displaced from their houses and places of livelihood.

“The entire Community is submerged and we can see only some rooftops. We had severe flooding in 2012 but the experience was not as harrowing as this. The flood has completely taken over and all we can see and feel now is untold hardship and hunger steering us in the face. Everyone is affected by this disaster. You, our friends from the Media, can see for yourself; words are inadequate to describe the situation in our community today.

“Government officials from the Delta State Ministry of Environment and the local government came last week but the flood had not risen to this frightening scale, the present devastation of epic proportions. We are obviously in an emergency situation that the government of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the Federal Government, and their relevant agencies must intervene, to urgently come in to ameliorate the suffering of the people.

“This community is very strategic to the economic interest of Nigeria and Delta State as it is host to major International Oil Producing Companies (IOCs), which have operations here. This is where they do their business. We need their help at this time also.

“We are urging them to share in our plight and moments of extreme pain, by ensuring that they come together with the government, and act fast in coming to our rescue.

“We are in very a difficult and overwhelming situation as even our children can no longer go to school. The two government secondary Schools and the two primaries have being forced to go on break. People can no longer do their businesses meaningfully as everything is now at standstill. Yes, life in our community is practically at a standstill.

“Our means of livelihood have being halted by this ecological disaster.

“We now look up to God, the government and good spirited individuals to help our people out of this situation,” the statement added.


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