SOME concerned residents of Warri have reiterated their appeal for the clearance of some canals in the Local Government Area.
Those who spoke to our correspondent on the issue mentioned the canals at the south end of Igbudu Market, Warri/Sapele Road adjacent to Wema Bank, Ogboru and Otovwodo (Agbassa).
They complained that the said canals were overfilled with weeds and refuse and therefore called for their immediate clearance to solve the problem of flooding in the Local Government Area.
A trader in Igbudu Market, Mrs Agnes Omamuzo, expressed optimism that the clearance of the canal at the south end of the market would go a long way in solving the problem of flooding in the area more so with the construction of a culvert on the Lower Erejuwa Road near the Warri Garage which the canal is linked to.
A resident of the area, Mr Clifford Aghogho expressed the same optimism.
He however appealed for the construction of concrete walls on both edges of the walls of the Igbudu Market canal to prevent erosion and allow for a free flow of water to the said culvert on the Lower Erejuwa Road.
Mr Aghogho further appealed for the immediate clearance of weeds and refuse at the said canal adjacent to Wema Bank by Warri/Sapele Road.
The two respondents however appreciated and commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for the construction of the culvert on the Lower Erejuwa Road near the Warri Garage.
Still, on the issue of flooding, a concerned resident of Ukpokiti Street who does not want her name mentioned in the media called on the concerned authorities to prevail on residents of the area to clear the drains in Mowoe Road and Ukpokiti Street down to the Warri/Sapele Road at regular intervals.
She noted that the said drains were filled to the brim with refuse just as she identified this as one of the major causes of flooding in the Ginuwa by JJC popularly known as River Ginuwa) and Mowoe Road.
She also called on the government to clear the canal that links Ukpokiti drains to Bowen Avenue Bridge through Otovwodo (Agbassa) Community regularly. She expressed optimism that with this, the problem of flooding would be a thing of the past in the area.
Meanwhile, some residents of Makro and Nelson Williams Street, off Ogboru Street that borders the Ogboru canal, told our correspondent that their worries were not about flooding but about the overgrown weeds in the canal which they said was being inhabited by snakes and other reptiles as they stressed that flooding was not a challenge as they noted that the said streets were on a higher plain than the Ogboru canal.
However, a resident of Nelson Williams Street, Jerome Osariemen, narrated that most often, dangerous snakes strayed into residential houses and shops in the area.
A resident of Makro Street, Joseph Akoro, also shared similar sentiments, adding that it was risky for residents to go to their bathrooms or kitchens without lights when it was nightfall for fear of stepping on reptiles.
Both respondents then appealed to the authorities concerned to embark on a regular clearance of the canal.
