FLOODING in parts of Asaba, the Delta State capital has long been a recurring nightmare, one that has left residents counting their losses year after year. Each rainy season came with its familiar scenes: submerged streets, stranded motorists, damaged goods, and disrupted businesses.
For years, the people lived with the reality of poor drainage systems and inadequate urban planning, watching helplessly as floodwaters swallowed parts of the capital. But now, there is a glimmer of hope that this chronic challenge may finally be nearing its end.
The ongoing multi-billion-naira Asaba Stormwater Control Project stands as the most ambitious and technically sound attempt yet to solve the city’s flooding challenge in the state capital. When Governor Sheriff Oborevwori recently inspected the project, a sprawling six-kilometre network of deep concrete drains stretching from Summit Road to the Amilimocha Stream, his message was clear: Asaba’s flooding problem will soon be history.
The project, executed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), is designed to channel stormwater from critical flood-prone areas such as the Shoprite axis, Interbau-Ogagifo, and St. Patrick’s College directly into the Amilimocha River. With its engineering depth and sustainability design with sections as deep as six metres underground and large 2.4 by 2.4 metre drains, the project will handle the massive volumes of stormwater that typically overwhelm the capital during the rains.
Incidentally, flood control in Asaba did not start today; it has been an ongoing effort spanning nearly a decade. Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration initiated major drainage works across Nnebisi/Westend/Anwai Road and the Okpanam and DBS Roads, which reduced the intensity of flooding in those areas. Therefore, Governor Oborevwori deserved accolades for maintaining continuity in governance and building upon the foundation laid by his predecessor.
According to reports, 40 percent of the contract sum has already been mobilised to the contractor, with no outstanding debts from the state government. This level of fiscal discipline ensures that work continues unhindered, preventing the usual delays that plague major infrastructure projects.
We commend the foresight in adopting a long-term engineering approach rather than cosmetic palliatives. Previous administrations across Nigeria have often relied on shallow gutters or emergency de-silting operations that provide only temporary relief. But the Asaba project goes beyond that.
The administration’s commitment to continuity, particularly in extending similar drainage projects to Warri and its environs, is also worth commending. The completion of phases one and two of the Warri Storm Drainage Project, and the ongoing phase three, reflects a government that understands that environmental safety is inseparable from economic progress.
However, ending the flood challenge requires more than physical infrastructure. It calls for behavioural change and strict environmental discipline. Residents must stop the indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains, a habit that has repeatedly undermined government efforts. The Delta State Environmental Taskforce must therefore intensify public education campaigns and enforce sanitation laws. A drainage system, no matter how well designed, will fail if choked with plastic waste and debris.
Urban flooding is not just a local problem; it is part of a global environmental crisis. The state must therefore integrate flood management into its broader urban development policy. Proper land use regulation, green infrastructure, and regular desilting should complement the stormwater project.
Ultimately, the test of this ambitious project will be in its maintenance and enforcement. The government must ensure that the system remains functional long after completion. Regular inspection, prompt repairs, and responsible urban management must be institutionalised.
Asaba, a city once synonymous with flooding, is finally seeing the dawn of relief. The Summit Road-Amilimocha Stream Flood Control Project, when completed, will not only end the seasonal menace but also restore public confidence in governance. We commend the Oborevwori administration for keeping faith with the people, for investing in infrastructure that improves lives, and for daring to solve a problem that many thought was insurmountable.
If the current momentum is sustained, the story of Asaba’s annual floods may soon be told only in the past tense.
