Persistent Flooding in Port Harcourt: Environmentalist, Residents Raise Alarm Over Blocked Drainages and Health Hazards.

 

 

An environmentalist in Rivers State, Meshack Onyi, has expressed deep concern over the lack of equipment and government attention to blocked drainage systems across Port Harcourt and its surrounding areas. Speaking with our reporter, Mr. Onyi said that the persistent rainfall coupled with poor drainage management poses both environmental and public health threats to residents.

 

“June, July, and September are the peak of the rainy season,” Mr. Onyi stated. “Most of the drainages in Port Harcourt are covered, and unfortunately, there are no facilities or machinery in place to distill them. Typically, covered drainages require special equipment to maintain and clean them. But in our case, we lack such tools, which makes it almost impossible to clear the blockages. If these drainages are not properly distilled, we risk incurring severe losses and environmental damage. Thankfully, we have not yet reached the critical situation seen in Mokwa, Niger State—but we must act quickly.”

 

Mr. Onyi further highlighted the health dangers associated with urban flash floods, warning that the risks go far beyond property damage.

 

“When these floods occur, homes get submerged, damaging electrical appliances and contaminating groundwater sources like boreholes. That is the most dangerous part—most people don’t realize that once it floods, boreholes and soakaways mix with floodwaters, leading to widespread contamination. Residents unknowingly expose themselves to waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea. The public needs to be aware of these invisible but deadly consequences.”

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The continuous downpour in Port Harcourt has resulted in repeated flash floods, causing widespread disruption of daily activities and economic losses. Business owners in affected areas lamented poor sales and repeated property damage.

 

“Market is not moving. We’re not selling; people aren’t buying,” a shop owner said. “I have been bailing water out of my shop since morning. Customers are stuck at home and can’t come out because of the flood.”

 

In addition to economic concerns, safety hazards have emerged across several parts of the city. Manholes without covers pose grave risks to pedestrians navigating flooded roads. Some students of the University of Port Harcourt residing around First Mechanic and Choba Station reported missing classes due to impassable roads.

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Motorists plying the Choba axis also blamed the persistent flooding at the Choba Junction on unchecked waste discharge from nearby eateries and commercial outlets.

 

“The drainage here is constantly clogged because some of these eateries discharge oily and solid waste directly into the gutters,” a driver said. “The government needs to step in before this gets completely out of hand.”

 

Residents are now calling on the Rivers State Government and the Port Harcourt City Council to urgently deploy appropriate drainage-clearing equipment and enforce environmental regulations to avert a full-blown disaster.