By Opara Ejike
A wave of flooding has wreaked havoc across parts of Nsukka in Enugu State, submerging schools, churches, homes, and businesses, and sparking urgent calls from residents for immediate government action to address the worsening disaster.
Among the worst-hit areas is the Enugu Road Primary School, where torrential rains have turned the school compound into a virtual river. Parents and teachers report that the classrooms are often inaccessible during rainfall, forcing school closures and disrupting learning for hundreds of children.
The water floods the entire compound. Students are sometimes trapped and can’t even return home when it rains heavily, said a concerned parent. We are begging the government to intervene before someone dies.
St. John Catholic Church and St. John’s College, both situated within the same premises, have also been severely affected. Parishioners describe a scene of devastation, where attending mass during the rainy season has become a dangerous task.
Beyond the schools, the flooding has severely impacted residential and commercial properties along the Enugu-Nsukka road corridor. Many homes, churches, and even filling stations in Alor-Uno, a community in Nsukka Local Government Area, have been completely submerged.
Tragically, at least one life was reported lost in a previous flood episode, and dozens of families have been displaced, according to local leaders. Some residents have begun threatening legal action against contractors and the state government over what they describe as failed or abandoned drainage and flood control projects.
Community leaders and environmental observers say the flooding is largely due to blocked drainage channels, uncollected refuse, and a lack of proper urban planning. In some areas, drainage systems have either collapsed, been vandalized, or were never completed.
Several infrastructure projects meant to mitigate flooding have reportedly been abandoned midway, worsening the already dire situation. Residents accuse contractors of doing substandard work, while government agencies have been slow to respond, despite repeated complaints.
This is not a natural disaster alone — it’s a man-made problem made worse by poor planning, corruption, and neglect, said Peter Eze, a civil engineer and community advocate.
Enugu residents are calling on the state government, led by Governor Peter Mbah, to take urgent and decisive action to prevent further loss of life and property. Among their demands are immediate clearing and rehabilitation of all blocked drainage channels, completion of abandoned flood control and erosion management projects, emergency support for displaced families, and accountability for contractors who failed to complete public works. They are also calling for a comprehensive urban flood mitigation plan for Nsukka and other high-risk zones.
Community groups, school officials, and faith-based organizations have urged the Enugu State Ministry of Works and local government councils to prioritize flood control as the rainy season continues.
Local residents emphasize that waiting until lives are lost or properties are destroyed is no longer acceptable. They are demanding a shift from reactionary disaster relief to long-term, preventive infrastructure investment.
We don’t want another condolence visit. What we need is a lasting solution, one resident told reporters. This is a crisis that is entirely preventable if the government and contractors do their jobs.
As heavy rains continue across southeastern Nigeria, experts warn that without urgent intervention, flooding could become an annual catastrophe for communities in Nsukka and beyond.
