By Austin Ogwuda
Residents of Ozoma Hilltop Estate in Okpanam, Oshimili North local government area, Delta State, Nigeria have raised alarm over looming danger of being swept away by flood.
They expressed fear that with the approaching raining season, the over 3000 households in the area might be washed away if urgent action is not taken.
They are therefore appealing to the State government to intervene inorder to save them from the imminent danger.
According to the Chairman of Ozoma Hilltop Estate, Chief Alegu Emmanuel Chigozie, “the situation as a ticking time bomb; there is massive gully erosion cutting through the estate posing a grave danger to several buildings.
“Life in the estate during the rainy season is marked by fear and sleepless nights, as erosion worsens with every rainfall which has persisted for years, defying all communal efforts to control it.
“The erosion”, he went on, “has washed away the pathway linking our estate to the major road thereby compounding our suffering and isolated us.
“We have seen hell because of gully erosion; we can no longer control it. In the past, government officials came, assessed the situation, and left. Nothing was done. Today, we are still begging Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to save us from this impending disaster.
“We fear that the estate, home to over 3,000 households, may soon be submerged if nothing is done. This is an urgent cry for help. All our efforts have failed. What we need now is a solid drainage system. If this problem is not addressed immediately, lives and homes will be lost”, the Estate Chairman lamented.
He further stated that both the Oshimili North Local Government Council Chairman and relevant State authorities were alerted in the past, but only the Member representing Oshimili North Constituency at the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Frank Esenwah had visited to see things for himself.
They blamed the worsening erosion on the absence of a proper drainage system to channel floodwaters, especially the overflow from the Issele-Azagba axis, which empties into the estate during heavy rains.
*Additional report from Ike Philip Abiagom, Precious Erugo & Chris Mugbogwu
