Chief Williams Mkpa, a community leader in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom, has called on the state government to take proactive steps to avert flood disasters in coastal communities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that recent reports from the Nigerian Meteorology Service identify Akwa Ibom as one of the flood prone states in the country.
Mkpa, who made the call while speaking with NAN in Eket, however, regretted that many residents along the Atlantic Ocean coastline were unaware of the impending danger of floods.
?“We are talking of hundreds of fishing ‘ports’ with very thick population and little or no penetration of telephones as well as very limited access to the mass media.
?“The government should do more than merely providing a hotline for people to lodge reports.
“For instance, how will people in Atia community, where there is no mobile telephone network, call any hotline?’’ he quipped.
Mkpa underscored the need for Akwa Ibom Government to enlighten the coastal dwellers on steps to take in the event of floods.
He, nonetheless, said that the peculiar terrain and low literacy level in the communities had somewhat made it imperative to employ the use of a traditional medium of communication to reach the people.
“We learnt that Ikot Abasi, Eastern Obollo and Ibeno will soon be prone to floods; so, government should urgently initiate a plan for the looming danger.
“The government should identify safer locations and put facilities in place to provide refuge to people and facilitate their resettlement,” he said
NAN recalls that Akwa Ibom’s Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources via a radio announcement urged anyone who felt threatened by the flood to call a telephone number dedicated to assist flood victims.
Officials of the ministry, however, declined to provide details of the contingency plans put in place to mitigate the anticipated flood in the state. (NAN)