FLOOD MENACE! Tropicana neighbors cry out for Help

As they loose property worth hundred of millions of Naira

We are sensitive to it -Government

By our Reporter

The people of Afaha Etok Ibesikpo, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government of Akwa Ibom State have sent an SOS (Save our soul) to the state government to come to their rescue from the flood that has taken over the area recently from the construction of Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre.

            The victims who narrated their ordeal to our reporter recently at the scene of the incidence at Afaha Etok, said that the flood had destroyed all their household items, farm crops and other useful items, and called on the Local, State and Federal governments to salvage them from the ugly situation which has not only pushed them not into an unsafe environment but temporarily dispossessed them of their houses.

            The victims lamented decried that they happily allocated their plot of land for the establishment of the entertainment centre so that it could generate employment opportunities for their children without knowing that such a great calamity would befall them as an aftermath of their generosity to the government.

            The victims who counted their losses alleged that one of the women in the community whose properties where totally swept out by the uncontrollable flood is yet to be seen, even as at Press time. They maintained that they were uncertain if the flood has taken her away since they have not seen her since then.

            On the whole, the victims appealed to the government to come to their aid and also construct the road as they promised as well as channel the flood so that it would not cause more destruction in the community. On his part the village head Eteidung Hillary Essien said that he had written a letter to the Governor through the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties on March 2010 complaining that the community is locked up as there is no access road to the community in addition to the stagnation of economic activities in the flooded community.

            He added that youths have made several attempts to cause mayhem, due to timely intervention by community leaders expressing optimism that the state government would soon come to their aid.

“We’ve allocated the plot of land to the state government, for the establishment of Tropicana Entertainment Centre thinking that it would help us especially in the area of employment but as it is now, it has become a great problem to us based on the flood that comes into the area. We have written to His Excellency if the project would bring untold calamity to the community but they have assured us that anything that would bring in problem to the community would be resisted. But now, the whole of this area is being taken over by the flood and now our household and other properties are not safe. Continuing, he said in the month of July the worst befell them as many houses were swooped by the rain and therefore appeal to the government to help them in this situation.

Another respondent, Mr. Festus stated thus, “the problem we are facing here is that of the flood. As at yesterday (Press time) that we had a heavy down pour. We did not know how to help ourselves, we went to Tropicana to ask them if there is anything they can do as a preventive measure just to help us but there was nothing they could do as at that time. We tried all our best but it was not working out, that is why we need the government to do something about the situation to save the community. Let the government channel this water to an appropriate place so that we could be saved and that should be done urgently”.

            A civil servant who pleaded anonymous pleaded, I want the government to come and help us channel the water so that it will not destroy items or things here. When the houses are pulled down, the people would not be able to contend the cold, especially the elderly-people and children and another. With so much dirt and mud in the environment. It will generally help in breeding a lot of mosquitoes that will metamorphose into causing an outbreak of typhoid in the area.

            Another victim, Mrs. Magdalene Okon Etim who lived with her three children also regretted that, “the drainage that was constructed has diverted water to my house. As at yesterday, I was floating on top of water, even all my properties were flooded.

            She want the government to lend her a helping hand because all her house properties were destroyed, asking that a proper channel where rain water is diverted to the drainage or ravine” be constructed.

When contacted on phone, the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Enobong Umoetuk said, “We are trying our best to see how we can divert this water out. There is a little problem at the other side of the village and we are looking forward to seeing how we can bring in permanent solution because construction is going on and this is rainy season.

convert this post to pdf.