ONELGA: Floods Wipe Out Farms, Displace Thousands, Local Government Launches Emergency Relief
By Precious W. Ahiakwo
Devastating floods have swept through Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) bringing significant hardship to local farmers and families, with vast tracts of farmland destroyed and homes submerged across multiple communities.
The agricultural heart of ONELGA, known for its fertile lands, now lies underwater, with many farmers reporting total crop loss. The zones of Idu, Ogbidi, Ikwuzi, and Omoku have been particularly hard hit, while additional damage has been reported in Akabuka, Idu Obosiukwu, and Idu Osobile communities.
The destruction of crops just before harvest season is a severe blow to local farmers, many of whom rely solely on their yields for sustenance and income. A cassava farmer from Akabuka, watched helplessly as floodwaters consumed his fields. “Everything is gone. I invested all my savings into this year’s planting. Now, I don’t know how I’ll recover,” he lamented.
Chinyere Amadike, a displaced mother from Idu Obosiukwu, expressed her fears for her children: “We barely escaped with our lives. The water came so fast, we couldn’t save anything. Now, I’m just worried about my children’s health. We’ve been exposed to the cold and dirty water for days. It’s overwhelming.”
Elder Paul Ogbidi, a longtime resident of Omoku, shared his shock at the disaster:
“I’ve lived here for over 40 years, and I’ve never seen flooding like this. We lost two neighbors—good people—because they couldn’t escape in time. It’s a tragedy. We need help, not just for now, but to prevent this from happening again.”
Grace Ogidi, a shop owner from Ikwuzi, described the impact on her small business:
“My shop was my only source of income, and now everything inside has been destroyed. I feel helpless. All I want is to rebuild and start again, but I don’t know where to begin.”
Families across the affected zones are grappling with displacement, forced to flee their homes in search of safety.
In response, the Executive Chairman of ONELGA, Hon. Prince Isaac Umejuru, has launched immediate relief efforts, including the distribution of food supplies and other palliatives, to begin this week. Recognizing the severity of the agricultural losses, Umejuru acknowledged the long-term impact on local livelihoods. “This flood has not only displaced our people but has destroyed the means by which many feed their families. We are doing everything we can to bring immediate relief, but we must also begin to think about how to help these farmers rebuild their lives,” Umejuru said.
The LGA Boss also said “Medical teams will also be deployed to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases, a critical concern given the scale of the flooding. Volunteers and healthcare professionals will work across the worst-hit communities to provide first aid, check-ups, and medication, especially for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.
Local residents are calling for longer-term flood prevention measures to prevent future disasters. Many, like the cassava farmer, hope that the lessons from this crisis will prompt the implementation of sustainable solutions that safeguard both lives and livelihoods. “This can’t happen again. We can’t keep losing everything to floods every few years,” he said.