We can learn from Netherlands for solutions to flooding problem – Magnus Abe

Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Magnus Abe, says the state can learn how to deal with flooding problem from Netherlands.

Abe was speaking at the dedication of the party’s campaign at St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Garrison, Port Harcourt.

“Before I proceed, let me particularly offer my concern for our brothers and sisters in the Orashi region who once again have been inundated by flood water.

“It has become almost a bi-annual ritual that people will be driven out of their homes by water and stay out for months only to come back to struggle to retrieve whatever they can find after the water has receded.

“We all know that we cannot continue to live like that. We must find a permanent solution to this problem. It cannot be that every year when the place get flooded, we buy mattresses, we bring succour for that year and then two years later we are back to the same situation.

“Like I keep saying to people, we cannot continue to do the same thing and expect a different result. Every human challenge has possible human solutions and we must come together as a people to look for a permanent solution to the challenges of our people who live in the low land areas.

“These are solutions that are possible. I have been to the Netherlands. If you go to Amsterdam, they will show you where the River used to be and where the people are living now, where the center of the city used to be in the river.

“They have converted the river, instead of being an instrument of torment, it has become a tool in their hands. They use it to enhance their transportation. They use it to enhance their agriculture. They use it as part of what makes their lives unique, livable and happy.

“And I believe that if we come together and apply our brain, our technology and our engineering to some of these challenges we will be able to find permanent solutions,” he said.