By Rosheedat Akinkunle, JKNewsMedia Reporter
DELTA STATE government officials have called for urgent community cooperation to combat worsening flood and erosion crises, warning that indiscriminate dumping into drainage channels is undermining billions of naira worth of infrastructure.
The Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, delivered the warning during a press briefing in Asaba on Thursday, following a destructive downpour that struck Ika South Local Government Area.
Heavy rainfall lashed Boji-Boji Agbor, leaving a trail of damage to vehicles and motorcycles along the Old Lagos-Agbor Road. Aniagwu said such impact could have been significantly reduced if drains had not been compromised by human activities.
“Yesterday, many of you witnessed the heavy downpour across the state and the damage it caused to various properties, particularly vehicles and motorcycles in the Ika area,” he said.
He added that while other areas like Asaba also saw intense rainfall, they avoided major disruption thanks to prior government investment in dual drainage systems.
“Our government has previously focused on effective flood control measures,” Aniagwu noted. “I am happy to report that for the majority of the roads we have constructed, we ensured the installation of dual drains.”
Despite these provisions, flooding in Agbor was worsened by the blockage of smaller tributary drains, which were meant to feed into the main systems.
According to Aniagwu, these were compromised by refuse dumping, leading water to overflow onto roads instead of draining properly.
“There are large drains on both sides of the road to accommodate floodwater whenever it rains heavily,” he explained. “But if you go out, you will see how people are undermining the capacity of these drains by dumping refuse inside them.”
Referencing last year’s flash floods in Dubai and Spain, Aniagwu said no society is immune to nature’s forces. However, he warned against politicising local incidents, urging a focus on practical solutions.
“Water must find its level,” he said. “Once you compromise the capacity of a drain, the water will seek alternative routes instead of flowing through the designated channels.”
Aniagwu sympathised with residents who suffered losses and reiterated the government’s commitment to constructing resilient infrastructure.
He said the state had spent heavily to ensure major roads are protected, but called for greater public responsibility in maintaining them.
“This is part of what occurred in Agbor yesterday. While the rainfall was indeed intense, such events can occasionally overwhelm the capacity of the available drains,” he said. “However, those drains are adequately sized and have previously managed water flow effectively.”
He warned that continued abuse of the drainage system by the public could undermine long-term efforts and urged residents to follow safety guidance and embrace environmentally responsible habits.
“We must work together. This isn’t just a government issue. It’s a community issue,” Aniagwu said.
