The move followed predictions of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and experts that Delta State will experience severe flooding this year.
The newly appointed Delta State Director-General, Special Duties, Chief Frank Omare, disclosed this while inspecting some structures posing as obstacles to the ongoing construction of the Storm Water Project by the state government in the Warri and Uvwie areas of the state.
Before the bulldozers and other heavy equipment start rolling out in the coming days to pull down buildings and other structures blocking water channels in the Warri axis of the state, Chief Omare inspected some of the obstacle areas in the locality.
Some of the structures marked for demolition at Ugboroke Layout are a private-storey building, a church on Nemejor Street and Auntie Rose Street.
On the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Housing Complex road, some buildings under construction on a water channel around a new estate were also marked for demolition.
At the Ekpan Roundabout, a storey building constructed not quite long, but sitting on a channel from which other drains in the area discharge water to the Ekpan River was marked for demolition.
Omare also ordered those who converted part of the water channel to a wood market in the area, to vacate the place or risk their materials being destroyed.
He and his team also inspected some water channels at Uti Street and Okoribi in Alegbo area of Effurun.
He said: “We must get it right to address flooding menace in Warri, Uvwie, Udu and all other parts of the state. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s vision for New Warri cannot be achieved with the present state of unapproved structures blocking the water channels, which remains the major cause of flooding in the locality.
“We hope for maximum cooperation from owners of these structures in addressing the problem. This is not time for sentiments or blackmails. The reality on ground requires immediate attention and I have been given the mandate to execute and the work has since started. Sensitisation is key, hence our going round to identify the illegal structures and speak to their owners.”
Omare advised owners of buildings blocking water channels to quickly relocate as there will be no formal notice before the bulldozers move in to bring the illegal structures down, adding that he will not succumb to blackmail in carrying out his duty.
The Director-General asked those with genuine documents of approval for their buildings to forward same to his office for verification with the appropriate authorities.
Omare explained that owners of buildings with genuine approvals will be compensated to allow for the free flow of water, stressing that the challenges of flooding in Warri and its environs have been very devastating.
Recall that the last time a major step was taken by the state to decisively deal with the flood menace in the Warri area and other parts of the state as regards blockage of natural water channels by illegal structures was in the administration of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan with Omare as the Commissioner for Environment.
He is again saddled among others with the responsibility to open up natural water channels that have been blocked over the years with the attendant consequence of flooding with just a little rain.
