While it rained in the wee hours of 20th June 2020, little did the people of Umuezeagu Uruagu, Nnewi know what was about to befall them as they woke up to the devastating effect of the flood that entered homes, pushed down walls and washed away farm lands.
The people of Umuezeagu and Okpunoeze appreciate the effort of Dr. Willie Obiano, The Executive Governor of Anambra state on the construction of Nnewi Hotel road that cuts across the two communities in Uruagu, Nnewi. This project has continued non-stop even during this raining season as the contractor is still at site.
However, the design of the drainage and the resultant flood has turned out to be a serious source of worry for Umueze-agu and Akamili-Umudim.
There is URGENT need to take another look at the channelling of the drainage on this road to avoid wiping away a community and creating another gully erosion sites that will be worse than what we have in 100-foot Road, where the state Government is currently spending billions of Naira. Again, we appreciate the effort of the Anambra State Government on the 100-foot Road project.It beats all environmental/civil engineering understanding that the massive volume of water (flood) expected from the Okpuno-eze bus stop, part of Umume-agbu, part of Akabu-ezem and upper part of Umueze-agu was channelled through Ogwugwu-eze-ani in Umueze-agu.
The destructive power of flowing water increases exponentially as its velocity increases. Therefore, water must not be allowed to develop sufficient volume or velocity to cause excessive wear and damage along its path. There is urgent need to re-route the distribution of the flood to reduce the pressure of the flood at different points along the road.
The rain of 20th June 2020 being the first rain after the opening up of the drainage has shown that the drainage construction need to be re-engineered. The collection centre, near Nnewi Hotel at Ogwugwu-eze-ani in Umueze-agu need to be re-engineered. Due to large volume of water (flood) and its dynamic pressure, the flood broke into homes, pushed down wall/fence at five (5) different locations starting from Ogwugwu-eze-ani within Umuezeagu Community. Cash crops and farm land were washed away as well.
There is urgent need for Anambra state ministry of works to take a second look at the on-going construction and come up with a better design to reduce the volume and pressure of water getting to Ogwugwu-eze-ani.
A close look at the on-going drainage construction, that runs from Okpuno-eze bus stop to Ogwugwu-eze-ani suggests that three distributaries (Outlets) can be added at Okpunoeze Primary School, New Life Anglican Church and Mmiri Mary Junction. The three suggested outlets will reduce the impact of the flood at Ogwugwu-eze-ani and environs.The one from Okpunoeze Primary school can be TUNNELLED (considering the slope gradient) via the side of the primary school playground to the stream not too far from primary school. The second one from New Life Anglican Church should be tunnelled via the side of the Church down to Nne nkizi stream while the one from Miri Mary will run through Ugwu Nwametu through Umueze-agu and onward to Mmiri Eze in Akamili-Umudim.
Water (flood) after Mmiri Mary will head to Ogwugwu-eze-ani and find its way through Umueze-agu at reduced pressure and meander to Akamili-Umudim.
The above suggested design/changes will also mean that the flood will entre Akamili-Umudim at different points, with less destructive impact unlike when allowed to enter Akamili via one point after destroying homes and farm lands in Umuezeagu. It will also elongate the design life of the drainage and that of the road as turbulence tendency of the flow will be drastically reduced.
We call on Dr. Willie Obiano, The Executive Governor of Anambra….(Akpokue Dike We are calling on you, we believe you will answer) to avert another gully erosion site in Nnewi.
Attached are some clips and pictures taken during and after the flood.
Comrade Emma Onyedika Okonkwo.
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