Akwa Ibom State is bracing for another intense rainy season, and Governor Umo Eno is asking citizens to meet the government halfway.
Speaking during the Government House Monthly Prayer Service in Uyo, the governor expressed sympathy for residents already affected by flooding while urging communities to take urgent action to prevent further disaster. With the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMET, projecting Akwa Ibom to record one of the highest numbers of rainy days in 2025, the call for collective responsibility has never been louder.
NiMET’s Warning Puts Akwa Ibom On High Alert
Governor Eno told the congregation that Akwa Ibom has been listed among states expected to experience severe flooding this year.
According to NiMET’s forecast, the state could see between 250 to 290 days of rainfall in 2025. That volume of rain, the governor warned, comes with serious risks, not just of submerged homes and destroyed property, but also of waterborne disease outbreaks such as cholera.
“Akwa Ibom has been mentioned as one of the states that will experience floods this year. Therefore, we must prepare,” Eno stated.The projection aligns with growing concerns across the Niger Delta, where blocked waterways and poor waste management have worsened flooding in recent years.
A Call For Shared Responsibility
While acknowledging that government has a duty to respond, Governor Eno stressed that residents must also play their part. He urged citizens to regularly clean drainages around their homes and to organize community sanitation efforts. The state government, he said, will embark on large-scale desilting of major drainages, but success depends on support from the grassroots.
“Please, clean the drainage around you and organise community service for this. The government will embark on desilting of the drainages, but support the effort of the government to succeed,” the governor appealed.
Eno frowned at the practice of indiscriminate waste disposal, noting that dumping refuse in gutters is a major contributor to blocked drainages and flash floods. To curb this, he directed the Ibom Community Watch, the state’s security outfit, to develop strategies to monitor and prevent illegal waste dumping.
Sympathy and Relief For Victims
The governor also expressed sympathy for families already displaced or affected by natural disasters across parts of the state. He assured them that the government would provide relief materials promptly. His administration, he added, remains committed to mitigating the anticipated disaster, but emphasized that “all hands must be on deck”.
This stance echoes the ARISE AGENDA blueprint of securing a safe and serene environment for Akwa Ibom people. The Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Rt. Hon Nsikak Ekong, recently reiterated that the government is harnessing available resources to bring the lingering flooding issues to an end.
Infrastructure And Long-Term Solutions
Flooding has been a recurring challenge in Uyo and other parts of Akwa Ibom. Residents of communities like Nsikak Okokon have lamented years of losses due to water entering homes and schools whenever it rains heavily.
The government has responded with major infrastructure projects. In 2023, Governor Eno commissioned a 1.3-kilometre underground concrete flood control tunnel, alongside reconstruction of sections of Atiku Abubakar Way with walkways, drainage, and solar street lights. Officials said the project was designed to de-flood the entire stretch of Atiku Abubakar Way and restore normal life to the area.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who commissioned the project, lauded the governor’s proactiveness in light of NiMET’s flood alert.
The Ministry of Works has also been directed to assess and repair potholes and blocked water channels across Uyo as rains subside.
Why Community Action Matters
Environmental experts and residents agree that government projects alone cannot solve flooding if individual behavior does not change. Poor waste management has been cited repeatedly as a key factor blocking drainages and making it difficult for water to flow freely.
Governor Eno challenged youths in particular to take ownership of public infrastructure. “We cannot be destroying facilities that government spends so much money to fix. It is not my money; it is your money. It is our collective money,” he said during the commissioning of the flood control tunnel.
He urged citizens to cooperate with environmental officers and ensure proper waste disposal to avoid further damage.
Looking Ahead
With months of heavy rain still ahead, the message from Government House is clear: preparation must start now.
As the state prepares for its Second Anniversary Inter-denominational Thanksgiving Service on May 25, 2025, Governor Eno is asking Akwa Ibom people to combine faith with action, clearing drainages, avoiding waste dumping, and supporting government efforts.
For many residents, the governor’s sympathy offers comfort. But his directive offers something more urgent: a roadmap to prevent the next flood before it starts.
