ASABA/Nigeria: Residents and road users along the Nwawolor Line Shop Road in Okotomi, Okpanam, with the Delta State Capital Territory Development Commission, , have been urged to exercise extreme caution around a flood-prone section of the road after heavy rainfall caused a jeep to fall into an uncovered ditch.
The former Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Delta State, Chief Charles Muka (rtd.), raised the alarm in a message sent to Ndokwa Reporters following the heavy rainfall and the incident involving the vehicle, in a video he shared.
Muka, who is also a former chairman of the Okotomi community, said residents, particularly those living along the Nwawolor Line Shop Road near the popular White House area, had continued to face serious hardship whenever heavy rainfall resulted in flooding.
He said the drainage infrastructure constructed to channel floodwater through a tunnel towards the River Niger via Shadrack Estate had not adequately addressed the problem.
According to him, the gutters are not wide enough to handle the volume of water generated during heavy rainfall, while the drainage channels from the T-junction are not properly connected to the tunnel.
He explained that floodwater from three directions consequently converges around the affected area, creating a strong current that crosses the road and flows into nearby bushes and residential compounds.
Muka said motorists could easily lose control when they unknowingly drive into the flooded section, particularly because the ditch becomes difficult to see when covered by water.
He cited the latest incident, in which a jeep fell into the uncovered ditch following the heavy rainfall, as another indication of the danger posed to motorists and other road users.
The former police spokesman recalled that a child had also been swept away by floodwater at the location some years ago, stressing that the recurring danger required urgent attention.
He further blamed the flooding partly on the obstruction of natural drainage channels by buildings and other structures, saying such obstructions prevent stormwater from following its natural course.
Muka called for the existing drainage system to be properly connected to the tunnel to improve the movement of floodwater and reduce the pressure on the road.
He also advocated the removal of buildings and other structures found to be blocking the drainage channels, while urging residents to desist from dumping refuse into the tunnel and other waterways.
He suggested that floodwater from the Nwawolor axis could also be diverted to reduce the volume reaching the affected section of the road.
Muka appealed to relevant authorities to urgently address the drainage and safety concerns, while advising residents and motorists to avoid the location whenever rainfall leaves the road submerged.
He said a combination of improved drainage, removal of obstructions and responsible waste disposal would help reduce the recurring flooding and associated risks in the area.
