DESOPADEC Urges Isoko Residents to Keep Waterways Clear as Flood Control Continues

Residents of Isoko Nation have been urged to stop dumping refuse into drainage channels and waterways as the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) intensifies its flood control intervention across oil-producing communities in Delta State.

The Member representing the Isoko ethnic nationality on the DESOPADEC Board, Chief Victor Okemena Egbo, made the appeal on Monday, July 6, 2026, while inspecting the ongoing flood control intervention project in Olomoro, Isoko South Local Government Area.

Chief Egbo said the success of the annual flood mitigation exercise depends not only on government intervention but also on the cooperation of residents in maintaining clean drainage systems throughout the year.

According to him, routine clearing of blocked drains and overgrown vegetation would significantly reduce flooding, improve environmental sanitation and safeguard public infrastructure.

He noted that clogged drainage channels prevent the free flow of rainwater, resulting in floods that destroy homes, roads, businesses and farmlands, while stagnant water created by blocked drains provides breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other disease-causing organisms responsible for malaria, cholera and other preventable diseases.

The DESOPADEC Board member also warned that unchecked overgrown bushes pose security and public health risks by providing shelter for snakes, rodents and other harmful animals.

He therefore called on residents to regard environmental sanitation as a collective responsibility by avoiding indiscriminate disposal of refuse into drainage channels and actively participating in community sanitation exercises.”Drainage channels must remain free from obstruction throughout the year to reduce flooding and protect lives and property,” Chief Egbo stated.

He explained that opening up waterways would not only improve the free flow of stormwater but also preserve roads and other public infrastructure, enhance farming activities and reduce the devastating impact of seasonal flooding across Isoko communities.

Chief Egbo commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for prioritising environmental sustainability and infrastructure development through the M.O.R.E. Agenda, while also applauding the DESOPADEC Board and Management for sustaining developmental interventions in the state’s oil-producing communities.

The ongoing flood control exercise forms part of DESOPADEC’s proactive measures to mitigate flooding across its mandate areas ahead of the peak rainy season.