The DESOPADEC Commissioner representing Ndokwa Ethnic Nationality, Comrade Nnamdi Ezechi, has raised the alarm that Okpai Community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State and the host of the 480 megawatts Independent Power Plant (IPP), is under severe threat of being washed away by the ravaging flood from the River Niger.
The alarm is coming on the heels of an earlier warning by the Deputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Friday Osanebi, to residents of flood prone areas in Delta State, along the River Niger to immediately relocate to higher grounds to avert similar calamity like the 2012 flood.
According to Comrade Ezechi, farms, crops, and houses, in Oluchi, Obeze, Umuagulu, Okpai-Ashaka, Obodoyibo, and Anieze communities in Okpai Kingdom, were ravaged by the flood over the weekend, living the residents, scampering for safety and refuge.
Other communities earlier affected by the flood in Ndokwa-East, were Adiai-Obiaka, Utuoku, Onyah, Asab-Ase, Utchi, Obeche and Abala-Osimili.
The DESOPADEC Commissioner, who personally visited the areas, said the Palace of the Igwe of Okpai in Okpai-Oluchi, HRM GoldringUgbome II, and other houses in Oluchi have been surrounded by flood water thereby restricting the movement of the traditional ruler and his household
Also, the multi-billion naira Okpai Independent Power Plant (IPP) is currently sitting on flood water which has encircled the mega electricity complex.
The DESOPADEC Commissioner said he had dispatched a rescue team to evacuate the old and infirm to safer and higher grounds to avoid any casualty, while also advising those whose homes have not yet be submerged, not to wait any longer.
Comrade Ezechi, told reporters that he would bring the matter before the DESOPADEC board, adding that what was paramount and urgent at the moment was to evacuate all those under severe threat to safety.
He also advised farmers to stack their yams and other food products in barns to avoid post-harvest losses and prevent hunger after the flood.
