The Abia State government has begun clearing waste from Rivers Ihe and Umudere on the outskirts of Umuahia in a bid to prevent imminent flooding in the state capital.

The Deputy General Manager of the State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) in charge of Umuahia Zone, Ambrose Jonah, said the exercise followed a directive from Governor Alex Otti, who had inspected flooded areas in the state capital.

Abia is among the states predicted to be at risk of flooding this year, according to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) seasonal climate predictions and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NHSA) Flood Outlook, which align with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) forecasts.

Jonah said the two rivers, which are tributaries to other rivers in Umuahia, would be widened to improve water flow after the rains. He cautioned residents against dumping refuse into the waterways and urged them to make use of waste buckets placed at strategic locations.

He noted that most of the waste generated in the state is non-biodegradable, adding that before the current administration took office in 2023.