•Governor Umo Eno
Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has sympathized with families and individuals affected by the recent flash – flood in parts of the State, calling for concerted effort to prevent recurrence.
Fielding questions from Government House Correspondents at the Victor Attah International Airport, on his arrival from official engagements outside the state, today, Friday July 10, 2026, he described the incident as unfortunate, and assured that government has put modalities in place to manage the situation.
Governor Eno noted that while government was committed to its responsibilities, all hands must be on deck to prevent recurrence, by desilting drainages around their premises, and maintaining a clean environment.
He appealed to citizens and residents of the state to take responsibility for keeping drainage channels free of refuse, stressing that the fight against the flash – floods currently affecting parts of the state requires a collective effort between government and citizens.
According to him, similar flash – floods have occurred in Abuja, Lagos and other parts of the country, despite warnings issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), making it imperative for residents to complement government’s intervention by maintaining clean surroundings.
He observed that indiscriminate disposal of refuse into gutters and drainage channels remains one of the major causes of urban flooding, lamenting that many residents watch drains around their homes become clogged while waiting for government to clear them.
The governor said environmental sanitation should not be viewed as a government exercise alone but as a civic responsibility, recalling that communities traditionally came together to clear drains and maintain their environment long before modern sanitation agencies were established.
He explained that while the state government will continue to undertake large-scale desilting of major canals and storm-water channels, residents must ensure that drains in front of their homes and business premises remain free of debris to allow the easy flow of floodwater.
“We must work together. Let us stop blocking our drainages with refuse. Government will continue to do its part, but the people also have a responsibility to keep the environment clean,” the Governor said.
He also urged residents to heed weather advisories and flood warnings issued by relevant agencies, emphasizing that prevention remains the most effective response to flash flooding.
The State Chief Executive reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, assuring that government has already directed the immediate deployment of construction firms and relevant agencies to flood-prone communities to evacuate storm water, desilt blocked drainage channels and restore access to affected areas.
