Ibeno Stakeholders Commend Governor Umo Eno’s Flood Response, Seek Long-Term Coastal Protection

By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo

Stakeholders in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have commended Governor Umo Eno for his response to recent flooding in the coastal council while calling for a long-term flood-control and coastal protection plan.The commendation came from the Ibeno Clan Council and other community leaders, who said the governor’s intervention helped provide relief to residents affected by flooding that damaged homes and disrupted livelihoods.

Speaking in Upenekang, Secretary of the Ibeno Clan Council, Chief Okon Udofia, said Governor Eno promptly directed an assessment of the affected communities and mobilised agencies, including the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, and the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), to support victims.

The council also acknowledged emergency flood-control measures undertaken by the Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) of Seplat Energy in several communities. While welcoming the state’s broader flood management initiatives, stakeholders urged the government to develop a dedicated flood-control master plan for Ibeno to address recurring flooding, coastal erosion and ocean surge.

Chairman of Ibeno Local Government Area, Hon. Glory Ekah Effiong, thanked the governor for ordering an immediate assessment of the affected communities and said vulnerable residents were being relocated to safer locations as emergency response efforts continued.The stakeholders also appreciated humanitarian organisations, community leaders and volunteers for their contributions to ongoing rescue and relief operations.