Officials of the Edo State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency have assessed the damage caused by flash floods in parts of Benin City on Saturday, noting that the government is fast tracking efforts to mitigate the incidence of the menace in the affected areas.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Yakubu Gowon, said, “The state government sympathises with those affected. Succour would come with the completion of ongoing gully erosion and flood control projects across the state.”
The governor’s aide noted that the state government was desilting drains as part of measures to check the menace of flooding.
Areas worst hit by the Saturday flooding include the Infant Jesus area of Etete; Eghighalo Edosomwan on Ugbor Road; Ofunmwegbe community along Second East Circular Road, where residents were trapped and unable to leave their homes.
The Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency in February predicted intense flooding as the rains intensified, but the emergency responders said the flooding was caused by indiscriminate construction of buildings and dumping of refuse on flood paths.
