[dropcap]O[/dropcap]n yearly basis, the rains have arrived. For residents of Nwanze Ozie Street and Zappa Mixed Secondary School in Asaba, the Delta state capital, the story is not much different from previous years. It’s still the same endless tales of flooding and inability to access their street due to heavy flooding. Although the state government has rehabilitated some of the roads from which it commissioned 12 on June 2, the impact of flooding is still heavy on major roads across the state capital.
For the past ten years , the residents of Nwanze Ozie Street, Zappa Mixed Secondary School and the entire Uda -Layout have been living in agony and pains as their street have been submerged by flood.The flood which led to the collapse of parts of the fence of many houses, Grassroots Publishers reports that commercial activities have suffered setbacks for many years as businesses, including supermarkets, barbering saloon and stores were forced to close up. When Grassroots Publishers online reporter chatted with a resident who claimed annonimous said that the state government has abandone their street and that the present government do not feel the pains and inconveniences suffered by residents in terms of damage or loss of properties.
Another residents of the street Madam Stella told Grassroots Publishers online that they voted for Governor Okowa in the last election but that this time she will lead a protect vote aganist him because “Nwanze Ozie Street”is now a nightmare to both pedestrians, Students of Zappa Mixed Secondary School and motorists. It is usually heavily flooded every year. Motorists caught midway as the rains pours, wade through as one wades through a river.she said the government of the day is not feeling the pains and the anguish of residents who passed through horrendous times as a result of the perennial flooding in Asaba.Many cars sank in the deep and dirty water that took over the area. While some lost their engines to the water, others were forced to park pending when the water would reduce. Commuters were forced to trek long distances because commercial tricycles and cars cannot ply the street road again.infact the street is a hell of a swamp where the rain water accumulates on the roads and highway finding no drain to empty into.
She reiterated that if the state government did not resolve the flood issues in Nwanze Ozie Street in Asaba and environs , the lives of residents especially students of Zappa Mixed Secondary School Asaba will be in great jeopardy. The Grassroots Publishers online calling for  Governor Okowa’s  urgent intervention in rehabilitation of their street road which is in a very deplorable condition.
By : Ike Abiagom