NUJ appeals to Delta Govt to support flood victims

Members of the Warri Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ((NUJ) rose from their monthly congress on Thursday appealing to the Delta State government to urgently come to the aid of flood victims in Warri metropolis and environs in the wake of the heavy downpour that ravaged several communities in the state earlier in the week.

The media practitioners also advised residents in flood prone areas to heed the earlier warnings on flood from relevant Federal Government agencies, particularly the National Emergency Management Agency, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency and Nigeria Meteorological Agency.

In a communique issued at the end of the congress, signed by the chapel chairman, Okies Veeky and secretary, Dele Fasan, the union urged the state government to immediately intervene by coming to the rescue of the flood victims, particularly those living at flood prone areas, by possibly evacuating them to safer locations for the fear of more heavy rains that are likely to be witnessed before the end of the year.

While reiterating the urgency for the government to wade in, the chapel noted with concern the losses reportedly suffered by many residents whose houses and business premises were submerged by flood on the heels of the three-day downpour.

The union however enjoined residents across the state to clean their drainages and desist from emptying garbage into drains to avoid blockages.

Also, the NUJ chapel renewed their call on the state government to accord priority attention to the rehabilitation of all failed roads and drainages within Warri metropolis and environs, noting that that would go a long way in mitigating the problems arising from flood in the communities.

The union specifically tasked the management of Warri, Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency to rise up to its responsibilities by positively impacting on the mandate communities.

The congress also resolved that members should use the coverage of government activities as a platform for the government to have feedback from the public and vice versa.