Residents of Ihuike Group in Ahoada East Native Authorities Space of Rivers State are nonetheless recovering from the devastating flood that destroyed their roads and precipitated a tanker laden with petrol to spill its content material and pollute the surroundings alongside the East-West highway within the state.
A video despatched to THE WHISTLER on Thursday confirmed flood water blended with petrol flowing from throughout the highway into water our bodies and the vegetation within the space.
Based on an eyewitness, the dire state of the highway coupled with the flooding has resulted within the lack of lives.
The East-West highway is a serious route linking different oil-producing states within the South-South area, together with Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo, amongst others.
The impact of the flood had not solely divided the key highway however has made it completely unmotorable for commuters a lot of whom are anticipated to journey by way of the highway for the Christmas and New 12 months festivities in December.
THE WHISTLER learnt that aside from the scenario that has precipitated the lives of many highway customers, the flood has equally washed reptiles from their habitats to the highway thereby exposing residents and highway customers to extra risks.
Additionally, attributable to contamination of the flood water, residents are mentioned to be uncovered to different well being hazards.
The flood has affected greater than three million folks throughout the nation with not less than 600 reported to have misplaced their lives and 1.5 million Nigerians displaced from their houses. The flood has additionally ravaged a few of the nation’s highways, together with the East-West highway.
The Federal Govt Council (FEC) on Wednesday accredited the N400 billion for the restore of the broken sections of the East-West highway in addition to 5 different federal roads in Lagos, Yobe, Kano and Jigawa states.
The FEC at its weekly assembly presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo accredited the fund for the East-West highway mission and others following a memorandum offered to the council by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola as a part of efforts to offer succour and resolve points across the current floods.
