Rivers State Assembly Takes Legislative Steps to Address Flooding

Residents of Port Harcourt, the state capital of Rivers, have been affected by severe flooding in recent days, leading to the deaths of two teenagers. The state Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has vowed to tackle the issue through legislative actions and coordination with the state executive. Amaewhule visited the family of Oyechi Peter, whose son and brother drowned in the floods, and assured them of the Assembly's commitment to improving environmental laws in the state.

Key Takeaways:

• The Rivers State Assembly will take legislative steps to address the recurring issue of flooding in the state, following recent devastating floods that claimed the lives of two teenagers in Port Harcourt.
• The Assembly will engage with the state executive arm to follow up on their efforts to improve environmental laws and infrastructure in the state.
• The issue of flooding is not limited to Eligbolo, but is a general problem affecting the entire state, with blocked drains, canals in need of clearing, and desilting of channels required to allow for the free flow of stormwater.
• Director Mbe Daniel Mbe of the Center for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies at the University of Port Harcourt has called for strident efforts to reduce the impact of flooding and other disasters, emphasizing the importance of getting young people involved in disaster response and mitigation.
• The Assembly has urged residents to avoid living in flood-prone areas, pointing out that they have a critical role to play in disaster prevention.

Statistics:

• Two teenagers have lost their lives in the recent flooding in Port Harcourt.
• The floods have affected residents across the state, with specific instances reported in Eligbolo community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
• The Assembly has committed to working with the state executive to clear canals and desilt channels to prevent future flooding.
• According to Mbe, industrial and physical capital losses occur when disasters strike, and families are displaced resulting in loss of human lives.

Sources:

• "Rivers Assembly to take legislative steps on flooding" by Vanguard News, October 14, 2025.
• "Experts call for reduced disaster risk in Rivers State" by The Tide Newspapers, October 12, 2025.
• "2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction" by United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), October 13, 2025.