Flood victims in parts of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Council of Rivers State have accused the state government of excluding some of the worst-affected households from its N200,000 cash assistance and relief materials, while others insist that lasting solutions to flooding should take priority over temporary relief.

In Rumuekini community, Obio/Akpor, where stagnant floodwater has submerged more than 200 buildings and displaced hundreds of families, a resident and landlord, Innocent Wali, said relief materials could not compensate for the losses suffered by residents.

He urged the government to take urgent steps to tackle the recurring flooding and prevent further displacement.

Residents of Edmark Estate, Mercy Land, Nkpolu Extension and Rumuigbo also said they were yet to benefit from the intervention, despite suffering losses from persistent flooding.

They called on the government to clear blocked drainage channels and waterways to allow the free flow of water and enable displaced residents to return to their homes.

The complaints followed the announcement by the Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu, that Governor Siminalayi Fubara had approved N200,000 in cash assistance for 35 households affected by flooding.

Some residents, however, alleged that the distribution process failed to capture the most affected households, claiming that some people who were not directly affected received the money while genuine victims were left out.

They said they learnt about the disbursement through news reports, alleging that those who attended a meeting with Odu at Government House were the beneficiaries.

One of the residents, Marshal Ohorji, also criticised the distribution of relief materials, alleging that the exercise was poorly coordinated, with some households receiving multiple items while others got nothing.

He said many victims had left the estate to seek alternative accommodation and were not adequately informed about the distribution exercise.

An American humanitarian, Cliff Jarell, who participated in the delegation and serves as the estate secretary, explained that the cash assistance was distributed to residents who attended the meeting with the deputy governor.

Jarell appealed for additional support for affected households, urging individuals and well-meaning Nigerians to complement the government’s intervention.

Odu, who chairs the State Flood Prevention and Management Committee, had reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing immediate relief while pursuing long-term measures to address recurring flooding.

She said the situation had become particularly severe in parts of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City local government areas (LGAs), forcing some residents to use canoes to access their homes.

According to her, Fubara directed the committee to intensify its intervention by revisiting the worst-hit communities to distribute relief materials and provide direct financial assistance to affected households.

Odu said the government had commenced transfers of N200,000 to identified flood victims through their personal bank accounts to eliminate middlemen and ensure that the money reached the intended beneficiaries.

She added that the government was clearing waterways and blocked drainage channels to reduce flooding.

“We have been sending trucks of food and non-food items. For each movement, three trucks go to an LGA, and we send more than three trucks to LGAs marked with red flags,” she said.