The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has directed the State Flood Control Committee to take urgent measures to mitigate flooding in affected communities.
The directive follows eleven months after an in-depth investigation by The Colonist Report Africa exposed the devastating impact of floods in Aruwo Village, located in Abua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
During the State Executive Council meeting held yesterday [October 16, 2025], Governor Fubara instructed the head of the Flood Control Committee, Prof. Ngozi Odu, to ensure immediate action is taken to address recurring flood challenges. He also urged residents to refrain from blocking drainage channels, which worsen the flooding situation across the state.
The Colonist Report Africa’s investigation had uncovered how persistent flooding has displaced residents, destroyed farmlands, and worsened food insecurity in the community, despite millions of naira allocated by both the state and federal governments for humanitarian relief and flood control projects.
Using Artificial Intelligence, our newsroom analyzed over 3,000 pages of funding documents and satellite imagery to trace how public funds were disbursed and to assess their actual impact on affected communities.
The investigation not only sparked widespread public debate on accountability and environmental resilience but also earned The Colonist Report Africa the Covering Climate Now Award in the Food and Agriculture category.
