Terrorized by floods, Benin landlords cry for help
By OYE OGUNWALE
Wednesday, April 23, 2008

• Osunbor, Edo State Governor • PHOTO: Sun News Publishing

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For over three decades, their homes and property have been destroyed by floods that perpetually ravage their community. Neither their homes nor cars and other assets are safe from the terror of deadly floods that yearly devastate the area. In fact, many of their loved ones have been swept away by the floods. However, now, landlords and residents of Osarogiuwa Street, Benin City say they can no longer keep quiet and watch their property go down the drain every year.

They are appealing to the Edo State authorities as well as the Federal Government to come to their aid and save them from the floods which sweep the area annually.
Indeed, the story of the landlords and residents of Osarogiuwa Street is a pathetic one. In spite of writing many save-our-soul letters to the federal and state government agencies since 1983, neither the Edo State Government nor the Federal Government is keen on coming to their aid. They lament that the losses they have incurred since 1983, when they first witnessed the flood disaster, till now run into several billions of naira.

Their first letter asking help was dated February 5, 1987 through the Controller, Ministry of Works and Transport, Works Services Benin City, to the chairman, Committee on Flood Problems in Oredo Local Government area of Benin City.

The letter entitled: Encroachment of flood on roads and dwelling houses and signed by 16 landlords, reads in part: "It is pertinent to emphasise that since 1983, we have written series of letters to the Bendel State Ministry of Works and Transport through its Permanent Secretary, requesting the Ministry to come to our aid by helping to solve the flood problem facing us in our area because it has destroyed our properties and rendered many homeless.

"The roads are completely impassable. On the strength of these letters, the ministry sent its staff to inspect the area on several occasions, but up till now, remedial action has not been taken, although we were reliably informed that the ministry has, in its possession, a designated drainage map of the area aimed at linking Maria Garroti Road junction to the area.

"The worst havoc ever done to us by flood was in June 1985 when, in the circumstance, the BTV and NTA television crews came for coverage of the area. It was shown on air several times and an appeal was made to the Bendel State government by the two media houses to help solve our most pathetic flood problem."

Years later, no help was forthcoming from the government. On March 21, 2001, another letter was written again to the government. The letter, entitled: "Re-flooding/Erosion of Okhnarobo, Adolor Osarogiuwa, Eke, Esogbau, Osagie, Easy Motion street et cetera", alerted the government that all the streets were eroded and flooded every year during rainy season, a situation that had been on for more than 15 years and which gets worse every year.

The letter, signed by 12 landlords in the area, partly reads: "With the exception of Eke Street, all the other streets carry water from St. Saviours Road junction of Adolor with Osarogiuwa and Eke to form a very big water collection centre where about 20 houses had been abandoned by their owners.
"At the peak of the flooding, it spreads to many houses at Adolor, Esogban, Eke, Osarogiuwa, Okhuarobo and even Aguebor to cause damages.

The flood and erosion in this area have led to the death of a landlord owing to frustration and the separation of some husbands and wives.

"During the rainy season, the streets and the houses are flooded and the whole area becomes inaccessible. The houses that have not been abandoned can only be reached by climbing over ridges and fences built around them."

The landlords, in their letter, suggested the construction of a drainage system to deflood the area.
"A good gutter along St. Saviour road to stop all the water flowing from Upper Uwa and adjacent streets will be a good start. The final solution will be a drainage system from the junction of Adolor and Osarogiuwa to either the moat or the one now being constructed along Upper Sokponba road will remove all the water from this area", they suggested in the letter.

They also appealed to the government officials, especially the governor and other top functionaries, to pay a visit to the area for an on the spot assessment.

Again, nothing came as a response to that letter. Then on September 22, 2004, another letter was despatched to the government. The tone was more desperate.
The letter reads: "As at the moment of writing this letter, many houses cannot be reached, some can only be reached by climbing over fences built around them. Roads are impassable and economic and social activities grounded to a halt.

"There was a terrible disaster on 6th August 2004, when more than 100 houses were flooded for days, and furniture, food, clothes and other household items were damaged beyond repairs. Subsequent rains have added more damages to that of 6th August this year. It is not yet over.
"It is pertinent to note that we have been crying for help since 1983 but to no avail. We have written many letters to the various administrations of this state and nothing has been done to solve this problem of flood."

Last year, there was a response from the Edo State Ministry of Works. A letter dated February 1, 2007 and signed by one Engineer M. U. Egharevba for Hon. Commissioner for Works, informed the landlords of the area that the state government was making efforts to reconstruct St Saviour Road. It further stated that the feasibility studies and design of the said road had been done. The delay in starting the project, said the letter, was owing to paucity of funds. The letter stressed that work would commence on the road as soon as fund was made available. It directed the landlords to liaise with NDDC for the reconstruction of Osarogiuwa Street.

Since that letter was written over a year ago, work is yet to commence on the road. Now that the rainy season is approaching, the people are scared that another long stretch of agony is around the corner. They have been thrown into a state of uncertainty, especially since the landlords, who suffered losses as a result of the flood disasters, have not received any assistance from the Federal Government.
Now that another rainy season is near, they have appealed to both the Edo State Government, the NDDC and the Federal Government to come to their aid before any further damage is done to their property.