By: Theresa Donatus, Uyo.
Thousands of residents in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, have decried of been displaced following a devastating flood that swept through several communities after hours of heavy rainfall on Thursday.
The downpour, which lasted for over six hours, has caused severe flooding in parts of the metropolis, leaving homes, churches, and business premises submerged and rendering many residents temporarily homeless.
Among the worst-hit areas are Church of Christ, Abak Road, Nkemba Street, Uwah Street, Aka Itiam Street, Nung oku drainage area residents and other residential neighbourhoods within Uyo, the state capital.
The scale of the disaster became apparent as residents shared video footage showing the extent of the flooding, with several buildings completely surrounded and, in some cases, fully submerged by floodwaters.
A resident who posted a video of the incident raised concerns over the safety of occupants of affected buildings and appealed to the state government for urgent intervention.
“I am calling on the state government to come to our aid. I am not sure of the safety of other occupants of the houses. Our residence is overrun by the flood,” the resident stated in the video.
Other videos circulating from affected communities showed residents struggling to evacuate their belongings on the head, while some who managed to salvage their household items were forced to sleep outdoors as floodwaters took over their homes.
The development has heightened concerns among residents over recurring flooding in parts of Uyo, with some attributing the situation to poor drainage systems and alleged faulty construction practices linked to road projects across the city.
However, environmental experts have linked the increasing incidents of flooding to broader climate change challenges, including changing rainfall patterns, rising intensity of storms, and inadequate urban planning.
Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Princess Emem Ibanga, for comments on the immediate response measures were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
However, the commissioner was recently quoted during a meeting with ActionAid in Uyo as seeking partnerships with relevant organisations to address humanitarian challenges, mitigate the impact of natural disasters, and reduce poverty in Akwa Ibom State.
Residents affected by the flood are now calling for urgent government intervention, including relief materials, evacuation support, and long-term measures to address the recurring flooding challenges in the state capital.
