By Emma Amaize

ASABA—A group of  activists, who just concluded a sensitization tour of riverside communities in the Niger Delta region  have lamented that the local, state and Federal Governments have not  put in place adequate measures to contain the looming  disaster in the country.

The activists, Alhaji Yusuf Eregbene and Austin Ozobo, in a statement, said they were surprised that despite the warning on the impending flood by federal authorities, the various governments had done little to avert the danger, other than warning communities to relocate from low-plane areas.

They said: “The relocation warning is exploitative, as  the country’s government did not learn any lesson from the 2012 flooding, which ravaged almost every communities in the Lower Niger.  The menace of flooding has turned to a money- making venture by successive governments in the country, and that is why they refused to find a lasting solution to the issue of flooding in the various states in the country.”

The  activists contended that evacuation was not the best method to decisively tackle the re-occurring flood menace in the country, adding,  “A lot of money was brought to rehabilitate the riverine and other affected communities by the Federal Government, foreign and individual donors but the money was diverted.

“There was no probe of the committees as the various state governments divided the money among themselves. We are not surprised that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s government is taking same exploitative way in addressing flooding in Delta State.

“The most annoying thing is that they are calling for relocation but refused to tell communities where they are relocating to, whether to the Government House or Aso-villa,  up till now, they are not told the level of  state government preparations in terms of transportation, welfare and rehabilitation measures.”