June 25, 2020
By Ijendu Iheaka
Residents of Ukwu-Mango area near Ife-Obara basin in Aba, Abia, have cried out to the state government to save them from disaster resulting from a failed pump at the basin.
Abia government had in 2017 reconstructed the basin with a pump in the bid to collect storm water from Ariaria area, move it to Ife-Obara and then to Aba river but the pump failed.
The pump’s failure had resulted in the sack of many residents of the area from their homes following a continuous down pour for about three days in the area.
The flood halted commercial activities as well as human and vehicular movement around the Ifeobara basin which should take off storm water from Ariaria International Market and environs.
Akuchi Egbe, a resident of the area said the flooding of the area had persisted for many years, but escalated with the overflowing of the Ifeobara Basin following many days of downpour.
She said the 5.6 kilometer drainage system Abia government built at Ifeobara Basin to pump storm water from Ariaria area to the Aba river is not functioning, as weed has taken over the entire basin.
She said the business of residents had crumbled as the customers of residents who produce their wares from their homes and shops in the area were no longer patronizing them
Moses Igwe, another resident told our reporter that they have tried their best to tackle the flood in their own way but the situation had overwhelmed their efforts.
He said that the flood sacked many families, submerged homes and made it extremely difficult for families to even come out from their homes after rains.
"From Omuma road, the abattoir at Old Express, down to Francis Street, Olumba Street and the whole of this Ukwu Mango, no place is safe from flood, we are living in a disaster zone.
"The Ifeobara Basin government always talk of on radio as pumping water to Aba river is not functioning; there nothing like pumping water from here to Aba river.
"If there's anything government sincerely do to save us from the bad situation let them do it because people are already running away from their homes here”, he said.
Charity Ilomuanya, another resident stressed that the flood around the area was destroying their means of livelihood and their houses and properties.
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“Residents are loosing important properties to flood each time it rains and the situation has made us hopeless.
"We don't know what is going to happen tonight when the next rain comes.
“There is an ECWA church at Olumba Street, go there now, nobody even comes there to worship again.
“It has been submerged since the rain started and the flood has destroyed almost everything inside there.
"I plead with the Abia government to please come and save us because we have suffered enough here”, she said.
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