By Adeola Yusuf Senior Correspondent, Lagos
Heavy flooding along Ughelli-Patani axis of the East West Road on Sunday cut off a section of the road rendering the Ume Village portion almost unmotorable.
A statement issued by Bisi Kazeem, Deputy Corps, Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), on Sunday, advised motorists plying the road from Patani, Delta State through Bayelsa to Rivers State “through the Ughelli-Warri route to make a detour and use Warri-Agbor Road as alternative route.”
Meanwhile, Delta State Government has created five relief camps to take care of displaced persons in over 50 communities that have been submerged by floods in Isoko land.
Disclosing this on Sunday, Secretary to the State Government, Ovuzuorie Macaulay, said over 6,500 adults, excluding children, which far outnumber the adults, have successfully been evacuated and registered in the camps.
Meanwhile, the Isoko nation has commended the state Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, and the Isoko political class led by Macaulay for the prompt action taken to rescue and rehabilitate victims of the floods.
Making the commendation during an emergency meeting of all Isoko stakeholders at Oleh, President General of Isoko Development Union (IDU), Greg Akpojene, said government’s prompt response and initiative of the political class have saved lives in the communities.
The meeting was attended by James Manager, a Senator, member representing Isoko Federal Constituency, Leo Ogor, member representing Isoko North State Constituency, Tim Owhofere, NDDC Commissioner, Solomon Ogba, state Commissioner for Lands and Surveys, Patrick Ferife, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Betty Efekodha, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Orezi Esievo, and pioneer Speaker, of the state House of Assembly, Emma Okoro, among others.
Briefing the meeting earlier, Macaulay enumerated efforts of the government since the crisis began to include setting up of five relief camps in Isoko with two at Ozoro, two at Oleh and one in Irri.
He added that there was an ongoing operation to evacuate more people from Ivrogbo jetty.
He said over 4,000 people, excluding children, are living in the camps while more are still being evacuated with the possibility of setting up another camp at the Enwhe/Olomoro axis of Isoko.
Stating that state resources alone cannot cope with the situation, the SSG said, “What we are doing has no political platform.”
“We are all working for the general interest of the Isoko nation. I therefore enjoin all to see this as effort geared towards saving the lives of our people.
“The Isoko man does not know boundaries in emergencies but some of us are behaving strangely. What has happened to our values? We need to change for the sake of posterity.”
He said one of the major problems was that some of the affected people were resisting relocation despite the dangers they are facing.
He appealed to traditional rulers to help and talk to their subjects to lend support in various ways, especially in areas where the camps are located.
Macaulay also called on religious bodies to assist in ensuring that the displaced persons have maximum comfort, urging all well meaning Isoko sons and daughters in the Diaspora to contribute their quota towards the rehabilitation of the affected citizens.
Also at the meeting were all Isoko traditional rulers, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and presidents-general of all Isoko communities as well as members of the Isoko political class.
In a related development, President of the Dangote Group of Companies, Aliko Dangote, at the weekend announced a donation of N430 million for victims of flood disaster and women empowerment in Kogi State.
The state is home to Dangote’s cement factory reckoned to be one of the largest in the world.
It also hosts Dangote Academy of Learning and Development where young local talents are trained to boost the manpower needs of the nation’s industries.
At a ceremony attended by top government functionaries in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, Dangote said the contribution which is given through his Dangote Foundation was meant to complement effort of the government in providing relief materials to victims of flood disaster and resettling them as soon as possible.
He said N50 million worth of foodstuff and relief materials would be donated, while N150 million would be given in cash.
He also said N230 million would be distributed to women to boost economic activities in the state.
In a similar donation, last year, the Dangote Foundation gave out N600 million for the economic empowerment of women in Kano State.
Dangote said in his speech that he was touched by the pain and grief the victims were passing through, noting that it has led to the loss of lives, property and may lead to spread of diseases and epidemics.
“Obviously, the government alone cannot shoulder this onerous responsibility of bringing relief to the victims. The private sector and public-spirited individuals should join hands with the government to assist the victims of this national disaster that has ravaged about 21 states of the federation,” he said.
He also announced that the Dangote Foundation was raising its philanthropic profile across the world.
After the donation, he visited some of the resettlement centres and affected areas to commiserate with them.
Dangote Foundation has been described as the continent’s biggest donor when its philanthropic works last year soared significantly, hitting N16 billion.
Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada, described both the flood disaster, and the donation by the Dangote Foundation as unprecedented in the history of the state.
He said 73 resettlement centres have been opened for the victims from the affected nine local governments, adding that one of the local governments was completely submerged.
The Governor said the donation by the pan-African conglomerate is “indescribable.”
While thanking him, he assured that Dangote’s N230 million meant for women empowerment scheme would help in gingering the economy of the state, and create stability in families.
Early this year, the Dangote Foundation donated $500,000 to victims of explosion in the Republic of Congo.
With tentacles in 14 African countries, Dangote has been adjudged as one of the biggest employers of labour outside government in Africa.
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