Floods Submerge Homes In Anambra State Communities.
Rising water levels from the River Niger have led to severe flooding across five local government areas in Anambra State, submerging homes, markets, schools, and other vital facilities. The affected regions include Anambra West, Anambra East, Ogbaru, Awka North, and Ayamelum, where residents are now navigating submerged streets in canoes and wading through floodwaters.
Images and videos circulating on social media show the dire conditions, with local residents, including children, paddling canoes and swimming in the floodwaters. In one of the worst-hit areas, Mmiata-Anam in Anambra West, locals like Nnoru Anaekwe recount how the flood has forced people to travel by canoe within their own community.
The Deputy Chairman of Anambra West LGA, Mrs. Edith Ndive, was also seen travelling by canoe, highlighting the extent of the flooding that has affected even public officials. School buildings and other public structures have also been engulfed by water, impacting daily life and the local economy.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Felix Odimegwu, confirmed that the government is actively responding. A flood management team, including personnel from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), International Organisation for Migration, and the Red Cross, is collecting data from Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps to assess the needs of affected residents.
Odimegwu stated, “The state has activated over 27 camps and is providing relief materials, including food items, to the affected communities.” He added that these items—donated by the Bank of Industry and other organisations—include essentials like noodles, vegetable oil, rice, and beans.
To help residents prepare, the state has been issuing regular flood warnings every two days, tracking the water levels as they continue to rise. Many residents have already relocated to safer areas, either with friends and family or in the IDP camps established by the government.
The commissioner expressed confidence in the preparedness efforts, adding, “We are doing everything possible to provide necessary support and to ensure that those displaced have access to shelter, food, and other essential supplies.”
With ongoing monitoring and support from local leaders and relief agencies, the state remains focused on assisting affected communities as they face the challenges posed by these unprecedented floods.
