Women Group in Rivers State have urged the state government to begin relocating communities that would be impacted by the disaster to safe areas as sea level in some areas of the country starts to rise in anticipation of the anticipated flooding in 2023.
This occurred as Natural Justice Movement Nigeria organized a walk on climate change and energy transition, urging the state government to be inclusive in combating the year’s flooding.
During yesterday’s walk to the state government house in Port Harcourt, Dr. Mfon Utin, coordinator of the Healthy Life and Development Initiative, said that the sea level has begun to rise as predicted and that the government should immediately activate the camps already prepared for the emergency.
Utin regretted that many families had not been able to replace the sources of income lost in previous flood disasters and claimed that women were always the most affected by environmental issues.
She said: “We all know that the climate change issues always affect the women the most, because most women are the bread winners of their families. The flood has destroyed our sources of livelihood.
“This is the right time to relocate people. Already, some areas in Rivers State are already flooded. We are calling on the government to quickly relocate people to safe place so they can live safe.”
Additionally, Governor Siminalayi Fubara was praised for creating the flood response committee by Mike Karikpo, Head of the Natural Justice Movement Nigeria, but was urged to make sure the committee is inclusive.
Speaking while presenting a letter to the state government, Karikpo urged them to include women, youths, community leaders, and civil society organizations in the flood committee because everyone should be involved in decisions that affect them.
