Fides Media Living the Faith
By Abuchi Onwumelu
Concerned by the disaster waiting to happen in Okpoko, the Ogbaru Local Government, has begun desilting of parts of the Sakamori drainage to avert the looming disaster pending the implementation of the state government lasting solution to the problem of Sakamori.
Addressing newsmen in Okpoko, the transition committee chairman of Ogbaru local government Area of Anambra State, Hon. Ifeanyichukwu Awogu said massive excavation of debris from the over 10feet deep Sakamori drainage by the Ogbaru Council was aimed at preventing flood water from overflowing into people’s homes.
‘We fear that homes within Okpoko will be submerged with the first set of rains as the drainage is covered with sand, we reason that if we do not interven no matter how little, that the havoc it will result to will overwhelm the Council,’ Awogu said.
He noted that Sakamori was the drainage channel that collects nearly all the rain waters in Onitsha, parts of Nkpor, parts of Obosi and the whole of Okpoko and empties it into Idemili stream from where it accessed the River Niger.
‘But it is filled to the brim with debris and needs urgent desilting to save residents of Okpoko from being swept away from their homes.
‘What we are doing is a mere scratch on the surface of the problem as we lack the capacity to address it in finality but our attempt in excavating the water channel will enable it collect and retain high volume of water so as to keep the people away from being submerged as it won’t overflow its border,’ he concluded.
Fides reports that a considerable progress had been made as water now flows freely. The operation was in its 3rd day and the people of Okpokp now heave a sigh of great relief.
Speaking on behalf of the Okpoko community, the President General of Okpoko community, Hon. Eddy Emesinwa said the community was already preparing to begin to pick drowned bodies of children and adults which he said had always been the case anytime it rained heavily.
He noted that people had in the past been swept away even from their homes, saying that the effort of the Council Chairman in bringing excavating machines to remove the blockages had given the people the hope to withstand the first set of rains, adding that the mosquitoes that stagnated water breed was also going to be reduced because of the operation.
Hon. Emesinwa thanked Gov. Willie Obiano for his good works in the state and called on the people to always put the governor in prayers. He commended the governor for his choice of Hon. Arinzechukwu Awogu as the Transition Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government, maintaining that Ogbaru since the emergence of Hon. Awogu had transformed in many ways.
He noted that Okpoko is begining to be remembered by government as the Council has continued to sandfill roads and streets in Okpoko and now the effort at excavating Sakamori drainage channel.
