Floods Cripple Businesses, Damage Church Fence In Enugu
A number of shop owners have closed operations following stagnant floods caused by blocked water drains off Enugu Road in Nsukka, Enugu State.
A survey by THE WHISTLER on Wednesday showed that the affected shops are located along the intersection leading to Amukwa Street. The affected shops are also adjacent to Saint John’s Catholic Church, Ugwuoye.
A resident of the area, who refused to disclose his name, said the waterlogging was caused by blocked waterways along Enugu Road.
He stated that “Ours was like a bypass. While the waterlogged area along Enugu Road dries after some days, our side has no outlets to drip off. The affected shop owners locked up because the route is no longer passable. It is also dirty. We are afraid of an outbreak of epidemics. Nobody hears our cries, or maybe the authorities don’t want to intervene.”
Simon Onu has a vulcanising shop along the route. He said, “No customers come here any longer. How can they come when the road is not passable any longer? I only do outside jobs for now. We hope that things will normalise during the dry season. For now, we are like orphans. Some shops have already closed because of this situation.”
The flood also affects the Catholic Church, leading to the collapse of its fence. Our correspondent observed that there is an ongoing construction of a borrow pit inside the church premises.
A parishioner of the church, Isaac Ugwu, stated that the intervention was initiated by the authorities of Nsukka LGA.
In his words, “The flood has unsettled the church premises. Even the schools within the premises of the church are not left out. The council intervened by digging the pit to drain the flood. But it worsened the situation. A part of the church began to show signs of cracks. The council is now casting the walls of the pit. But I see no solution in sight. It is worsening.”
Engr Charles Asogwa said the only way out was to open up the blocked waterways. According to him, “It is not rocket science. The company that constructed the road is well known. Why can’t the state re-engage it to open up the blocked ways? There is no other solution to this nagging problem than that. I don’t know why the authorities are shying away from the real problem.
“They may see hope soon because of the ongoing Maduka University Teaching Hospital, Nsukka. I learnt the adjoining road was constructed by the Chairman of the Peace Group, Dr Sam Onyishi. With his teaching hospital being built close by, hope is rife for those residing in the area. The government will always disappoint us.”
Floods Cripple Businesses, Damage Church Fence In Enugu is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
