RismadarVoice Reporters
October 3, 2026
The Rivers State Government has commenced direct payments of ₦200,000 to identified families affected by flooding as part of expanded relief efforts across the state.
Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Rivers State Flood Prevention and Management Committee, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, disclosed this while addressing flood-affected residents of Rukpokwu at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Odu said the money was being transferred directly into beneficiaries’ verified personal bank accounts to eliminate third-party interference and ensure that the assistance reached the intended recipients.
The intervention follows a directive by Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the committee to intensify its response in communities severely affected by recent flooding.
According to the Deputy Governor, the government has been distributing food and non-food relief materials across affected local government areas, with additional assistance being directed to communities experiencing more severe flooding.
She said the government was moving beyond the distribution of relief materials by providing direct financial support to affected families.
Odu also said the state was working on longer-term measures to address recurring flooding, including clearing blocked waterways and drainage channels and developing engineering interventions to redirect floodwaters into designated canals.
She explained that major works would be undertaken when floodwaters recede sufficiently to allow the necessary interventions.
The government has also incorporated healthcare assistance into its flood response through the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme, allowing affected residents who require medical attention to access healthcare without bearing the cost.
Odu said the administration would continue assessing affected communities and providing assistance according to the severity of the damage recorded.
The state government has also been working with the National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant authorities as assessments and relief operations continue.
NEMA has commenced assessments in some affected communities in collaboration with the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency and other stakeholders.
The federal agency has also pledged to reinforce the capacity of state emergency authorities and provide additional relief materials to communities affected by the flooding.
The Rivers State Government said its response would combine immediate financial and material assistance with measures aimed at addressing the underlying causes of recurring flooding and reducing the vulnerability of affected communities.
