Oluwafunbi Bello 
UMUAHIA, Nigeria – The Abia State Government has assured residents affected by flooding along the Owerrinta Road reconstruction corridor that it will implement a permanent solution, attributing the incident to the area’s low-lying terrain and recent heavy rainfall rather than the ongoing road project.
The assurance followed a viral video showing floodwater entering a residential compound near the road reconstruction site.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, said the government sympathised with affected residents and pledged that the flooding would be addressed before the completion of the project.
“While empathising with the affected residents, the Government wishes to assure the public that the situation is receiving attention and will be adequately addressed as part of the ongoing road construction project,” Kanu said.
According to the government, preliminary assessments indicate that the affected location has experienced flooding for many years because of its naturally low-lying topography. While the ongoing reconstruction may have temporarily worsened the situation, officials said it was not the root cause of the flooding.
The state also attributed the latest flooding to unusually heavy rainfall recorded over the past two days, noting that the incident has enabled engineers to evaluate the effectiveness of existing drainage channels before the project is completed.
The government said the Ministry of Works and the project contractor would review the current drainage design and introduce any necessary engineering modifications to prevent future flooding.
It explained that the reconstruction and dualisation of Owerrinta Road are intended to improve road safety, facilitate economic activities and enhance the quality of life for residents.
The government recalled that similar drainage challenges encountered during the reconstruction of the Onuimo–Umuahia Road corridor were successfully resolved, expressing confidence that the same engineering expertise would deliver a lasting solution at Owerrinta.
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