Geographically speaking, Owerri situates on a plain and is surrounded by some body of water that empties it’s self into Imo river and can’t be prone to Floods of any kind.
Let’s Begin with a brief definition of the word;
FLOODING
Flooding can be defined as a type of extreme weather. It happens when there is heavy rainfall in a short amount of time. The land surrounding a river is called a flood plain. Coastal flooding, also called estuarine flooding, happens when a large storm or tsunami causes the sea to over flow her banks and rush inland.
Owerri as a city is naturally not prone to Flooding due to her geographical nature and the networks of drainage systems put in place by some administrations in the past and the ones being done by the present administration.
Owerri experienced her first major flood in the year 2006, 2008, 2010 which ran through 2016, 2017, and 2019.
In this Review, environmental field investigation, analysis of drainage and reliable rainfall data (2006-2018) were carried out.
Drainage blocked with refuse, buildings obstructing natural drainage lines, increasing urbanization (cementation) and the low topographic landscape of Owerri urban were observed as major causes of the flooding.
A flood risk map showed Owerri urban as vulnerable due to the above reasons.
Analysis of rainfall intensity (RI) revealed a tradition of one year drop after two years of rising. Change in RI from the one year of the drop to the two years of the rise was observed in a fairly decreasing order (41%-23%).
Hyetographs showed the highest peak of RI in July 2006 measuring 595.l mm/ hr. and lowest in May 2013 with 330.7 mm/hr.
With a 3-phase drainage network channeling runoff to Nworie River, flooding in Owerri urban will come to an end.
A renowned environmentalist ones said;
*”The law allowing ≤ 70% of impervious surface per developed plot of land should be enacted and be enforced to support natural infiltration”. Michael Nwachukwu. (Environmental and Rainfall intensity analysis to solve flooding).*
Measures taken in the past to curb the artificial menace
Ohakim’s Clean and Green
Ohakim’s administration tried a bit in flood control through her clean and green initiative which encouraged tree planting along our coastal regions and the major roads especially densely populated areas that are prone to flooding due to man’s shortcomings as enumerated above, it also enforced compulsory sanitation exercise in all the nooks and crannies of the state which helped a lot in clearing all our drainage lines and the Government on the other hand, engaged in constant desilting of our drainages.
It is on record that all through his administration there was no much report(s) of Flooding in owerri metropolis.
Sen. Rochas .A. Okorocha
This administration came with a rescue mission mantra and presented her self as one that came to salvage and restore the battered glory of the state as it was widely publicized in the media. It made many promises and raised the hopes of all Imolites. That same administration jettisoned the Owerri master plan in the name of urban renewal, built some make shift dorics in the name of aesthetics on drainage channels, introduced narrow drainage lines with no consideration to the volume of water that will be collected through them. He blocked well designed drainage networks in the name of road expansions, example being the incessant flood water we usually see all over Owerri *(Bank, Orji, world bank and Orlu Roads)* immediately it rains which usually takes days to run off.
Ihedioha’s Rebuild Imo Dangerous negligence
Chukwuemeka Nkem Ihedioha took over an almost failed Imo from Okorocha. He made ndi Imo to believe that he has the magic wand to turn around the fortunes of the state to a more better one but alas, he became vengeful and was bent on witch hunting of all the dissenting voices prior to and during his administration and before he could know it, the rains came knocking and throw him off balance and he quickly lost focus and blamed his predecessor for his inability to at least put up a temporary measure to curb the ravaging menace and made ndi Imo to believe that Work will commence immediately the rains were over but little did we know that he was busy lobbying the Caliphate to influence the outcome of his numerous court cases. His Administration left the most pressing issue and embarked on the least economic important projects like the 27 mini stadia and construction of Office blocks in all the 27 LGAs in the state, We all know that those kangaroo and over priced projects was aimed at settling his cronies and financiers….
Source: Vanguard
By Engr. Walter Ononuju Nnadi (MNSE)
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