A governorship aspirant on the platform of. The People’s Democratic Party(PDP) for Anambra State 2021 gubernatorial election and a former commissioner for environment in the state, Dr. Ifedi Okwenna has continued to release his blueprint for effective administration of the state if elected.

On the persistent flooding that overruns mainly the coastal parts of the state during rainy season, the seasoned technocrat said he will establish the ANAMBRA STATE INTEGRATED FLOOD MANAGEMENT AGENCY (ASIFMA) , saddled with the responsibility of solving flood and flood-related problems more proactively.

Here, Dr Okwenna speaks with our correspondent on his plans for effective flood management in the state.

FLOOD MANAGEMENT PLAN:
Anambra is one of the major flood-prone states. This has devastating consequences on the economy of the State. Virtually all parts of Anambra West, Ogbaru and parts of Anambra East Local Governments are perennially submerged under flood for most part of the year. Our urban centers are not spared. All our major cities including Awka, Onitsha, and Nnewi are usually flooded during rainy seasons not minding that Onitsha has a well designed underground storm water channel network which unfortunately has been blocked by poor urban management, indiscriminate dumbing of waste into drainage channels and uncontrollable erection of building on the storm water and the central sewage channeling systems in the city.

As government, we shall create the Anambra State Integrated Flood Management Agency (ASIFMA) to provide lead for effective planning and implementation of flood control projects in the flood ravaging local governments of the State and in the management of Municipal flooding in our urban centers. ASIFMA shall partner with the Metrological Dept. and the State Emergency Management Agency to provide early warning systems, sensitization and evacuation of those within the catchment areas. They are to make plans for Flood Insurance cover to aid housing rehabilitations and for agricultural seedlings/equipment replacement; provide entrepreneurship training and poverty intervention fund for those in the flooding areas for cushioning the effects of flood. We shall design and construct the integrated flood control schemes for Awka, Nnewi and Ekwulobia; expand, upgrade and provide sustainable management plans for Ontisha flood control scheme and its Satellite towns. We shall dredge the Otumoye/Nwangene lake to continue to serve as buffer to the River Niger and as collector drain for floods coming from parts of Onitsha metro areas.

Join us, let’s go to work.
It’s possible.

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