The Chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief John Nani has disclosed plans by the interventionist agency to clear waterways and canals in different parts of the State to avoid floods.
Chief Nani said the commission would focus more on areas that are prone to floods, just as he advised Deltans to stop throwing dirt into the canals and waterways in order not to block them. While addressing journalists in the Ugolo Community in Okpe Local Government Area, Nani said that Governor Oborevwori has directed the Commission and the Ministry of Environment to open blocked canals in the state, especially flood-prone areas, so that Deltans do not suffer.
Explaining the scope and duration of the operations, he said the intervention would take two weeks in about 30 communities of Warri, Uvwie, Okpe, Ughelli, Sapele, Kiagbodo Burutu, Sapele, Jesse, Isoko, and Ndokwa. He added that about 9 Swarm Buggy Machines have been deployed to different locations which would be working simultaneously within the two-week duration of the exercise. Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Commission, Chief Festus Ochonogor said the exercise is to minimize the effects of floods during downpours most especially in flooded areas of the State. Also, the Commissioner of Environment, Mr Ejiro Jamani vowed that he would do everything to ensure a clean and safe environment for Deltans but blamed them for the blockade of the waterways.
