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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Torrential rainfall almost on daily basis leading to increased water volume from the River Niger has once again crippled Ogbaru communities in Anambra State, unleashing a devastating blow to their economic and social structures.
The communities are also ravaged by deplorable roads that have now become impassable as heavy rains and flash floods, fuelled by the swelling River Niger, have combined to wash away livelihoods, leaving behind sheer anguish, suffering, and hardship in the agrarian communities that make up Ogbaru land.
Farmers have been hit the hardest, with their farmlands submerged by floods, forcing premature harvesting and resulting in significant losses, pain, and distress as they count their losses.
As a riverine local government area in Anambra State, situated on the banks of the River Niger and bordering Delta and Rivers State, Ogbaru’s flood-prone nature has been laid bare once more. From Ossomala to Obeagwe, Akili Ogidi, Ogwuikpele, Ogwuaniocha and many farm camps in the environs, the devastation is better imagined.
Residents of the area from Atani, Ogwuikpele, Ossomala, Umunankwo, Odekpe, Ohitar among others are presently living in a panic mode as they sleep and wake up in anxiety, unsure whether the situation will escalate further leading to total displacement or whether it will be contained so that they can bear the loss already incurred from their farms and seek ways to remedy the sad situation.
When the reporter visited the area last weekend, the affected residents, still traumatised from the 2022 flood disaster that claimed lives and rendered them homeless, cried out for help from government to help them avert such impeding disaster once more.
Lamentations of victims
Mr Adimali Nwachukwu, a yam and cassava farmer in Ogwuikpele, expressed deep pain and anguish as he narrated his ordeal:
Hear him: “The flood has destroyed me. It has ruined my hopes and wasted my labour. I don’t know where to start from. I borrowed money at a high interest rate to invest in large-scale farming this year. I spent a lot on yam seedlings and cassava stems, hoping for a bountiful harvest to recoup my investment and pay back my loan. But look at me now. With this flood and premature harvesting, I’m not sure I’ll even get up to 25 per cent of what I invested in this year’s farming. I’m finished. Where do I start from?” he lamented.
A widow, Nwakaego Nwafili, a cassava and maize farmer, shared her distressing story. “This year’s flood is suffocating me. Since the heavy rains started in July, I’ve been having panic attacks, knowing what was to come. I haven’t been sleeping at night, my mind is constantly preoccupied with my farm. I’m heartbroken as I speak to you now.
“All my crops are submerged underwater. I don’t have the funds to hire labourers to help with the harvest. I’m doing the premature harvesting by myself. I’m ruined. I have no one to turn to. As a widow, I rely on farming to feed and care for my three children after my husband passed away five years ago. Please, tell the government to help us. We’re in dire straits in Ogbaru. This flood is killing us daily,” she said, as she got emotional.
Another woman, Madam Oluchi Nzekwe also shared her family’s plight, revealing that her husband’s blood pressure has skyrocketed since the floods began. As the family’s sole livelihood depends on farming, the devastating impact of the flood has left them distressed.
“My husband, a proud and responsible father of seven, has worked tirelessly to sponsor their education. Three of our children, including a set of twins, are currently in the university – a milestone we’re proud of, having never had the opportunity for higher education ourselves. However, the flood has thrown us into a crisis mode.
“My husband’s health is deteriorating due to the stress, and we’re helpless to save our farm or crops. We can no longer access our land, and harvesting what is left seems impossible at the moment. I can only pray for the rains to stop and for government intervention, as we’re currently overwhelmed,” she said.
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Many people in Ogbaru communities are calling on government to come to their rescue in order to alleviate their sufferings and save their livelihoods.
NEMA, SEMA embark on simulation exercise
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) visited Ogbaru early this month for a flood simulation and sensitization exercise.
The operation aimed to test Nigeria’s preparedness for anticipated flooding, enhance multi-agency coordination, and raise awareness among vulnerable communities.
Speaking at the event, NEMA Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, said the simulation was a demonstration of the agency’s proactive approach to disaster management, particularly in high-risk flood-prone states like Abia, Anambra, and Imo, as identified in the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Annual Flood Outlook.
She said at the time, “Today, we simulate a crisis so that we can better respond when the real one strikes. Preparedness saves lives,” she said. “Our ability to respond and recover depends largely on how well we plan and train together before disaster hits.”
Mrs. Umar added that the exercise helped expose operational gaps, strengthened collaboration between agencies, and refined Nigeria’s disaster response strategies. The federal government of Nigeria through the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima has reportedly also approved N3bn to each state of the federation to tackle flooding challenges.
NEMA’s Head of Media, Manzo Ezekiel in a statement said the Director General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to the efficient, transparent, and accountable utilisation of the allocated funds, in line with the agency’s mandate to safeguard lives and livelihoods during emergencies. Umar assured that NEMA would continue to work closely with state governments, relevant ministries, agencies and partners to ensure a well-coordinated, timely, and people-centered flood response across the nation.
However, in spite of the assurances, affected residents in Anambra are eagerly waiting for the government for a lifeline.
Anambra govt working to address challenges
Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Felix Odimegwu, when contacted, said the state government has mapped out strategies to address the situation.
Though he could not confirm whether Anambra State Government has accessed the N3 billion reportedly approved by the federal government, he said the state learnt various hard lesson from the 2022 flood disaster and has continued to take steps to avert such again.
“We set up the Anambra State emergency flood management committee comprising the local government chairmen of the flood-prone eight local governments in the state, the commissioners for environment, fiancé, local government matters, SEMA executive secretary and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). This committee sits regularly and reviews the situation report with NEMA and NIMET.
“As at now, Anambra is not in the red zone, but we are not relenting. We have taken care of the man-made causes of flooding by desilting drainages and clearing all debris and other clogs in the waterways. We are conscious of the rising water levels in the state and have activated the holding camps and equipped them with non-perishable equipment”.
“The Federal Government can also take this matter more seriously by causing the dredging of the River Nigeria which has delayed for so long. On our part, we assure residents of prompt government attention at all times,” he said.
