Traders flee as flood wreaks havoc in Onitsha market
26th July 2017
• Buildings, vehicles destroyed
Traders at the Onitsha International Electronics Market, Anambra State, are counting their losses following the flooding, which submerged the market. It left in its trail a decomposing corpse it collected from an unknown source. Two buildings under construction also collapsed in Owelle Aja area of Obosi while vehicles, houses and properties were destroyed. The flood is believed to have been caused by blocked drainage system.
Commenting on the ugly development, the Financial Secretary of the market, Onyeka Azubike, who was flanked by the Vice President-General, Mr. Nwabufor Okoye and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ikechukwu Onwuama said: “The flood came from Sacramori area along the Onitsha/Asaba Expressway and carried the corpse into the market because the drainage system in the market was blocked at the entrance gate behind a company adjacent to the market.
“The blockage is the cause of the flood. Most affected were those at the A-line and adjoining ones. “We have alerted the Okpoko Police Station and health officials of Ogbaru Local Government Area so that they will remove the corpse to enable us remove the debris for water to flow.”
The PRO said the state government has been petitioned on the blocked drainage system and has ordered the opening. The order is yet to be executed. Also, former PRO of the market, Innocent Emenari and a trader who put the cost of damaged goods at N500 million, said flooding has been a recurring issue in the market since 2013. He said the market had written to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FERMA), to come to their rescue over an illegal structure obstructing the market, but to no avail.
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