By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
The Anambra State Government has ordered immediate closure of primary and secondary schools in flooded communities.
Chioma Unachukwu, an aide to the state’s Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, announced the closure in a public service announcement on Tuesday.
She said, “I am directed to convey the Honourable Commissioner’s approval for the closure of all schools in riverine and flood-prone areas in the state with immediate effect in compliance with the already published 2021/2022 Special Academic Calendar for riverine and flood-prone areas in the state.”
Our correspondent gathered that the closure may affect not fewer than 12 out of the 21 Local Government Areas of the state that had been designated as flood-prone areas by several authorities.
Dr (Mrs) Ebelechukwu Obiano, wife of the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, had at the weekend called on the Federal government to assist communities ravaged by flood in the state.
She named Ayamelum, Anambra East, Anambra West and Ogbaru Local Government Areas of the state as the worst hit areas by the disaster in Anambra North Senatorial District.
Mrs Obiano who is the Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA) in the 2023 general elections said over 6000 people from communities in the four Local Government Areas aforementioned were victims of the flood disaster.
She said the victims would need the assistance of government and other public-spirited individuals in the prevailing circumstances.
” No fewer than 6000 people have been rendered homeless by the flood, and the worst aspect of it is that the victims are predominantly farmers. The flood has destroyed the crops in their farmlands that are their means of livelihood.
“Offering them help now that they are distressed will go a long way in ameliorating their suffering and also restore their lost hope.
” I feel the pain and agony of the flood victims, hence I call on relevant government agencies to come to their aid by providing succour to them.” She had said.