The South-South Community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja has called on the Federal Government to alleviate their plight due to flooding in the area.
Retired Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mike Okiro made the call during the maiden edition of the Autochthonous South-South Nations Summit on Monday in Abuja.
Okiro who is also Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) South-South Community in FCT urged the Federal Government to assist the region to curb the devastating effect of flooding experienced by the people.
“Government should channel the rivers and lakes in the South-South part of this country to reduce the hardship that people suffer every year as a result of the flood.
“However, the suffering from the flooding is not only experienced by the indigenes of the South-South region but it’s also experienced by the entire country,” he said.
Amb. Dickson Omoregie, President, South-South Community, FCT Abuja said the meeting was to foster unity amongst the South-South people.
Omoregie said that the era has come for the people of the region to decide their destiny through the 2023 general elections.
“We have urged all the South-South indigenes to go and register so that their votes can count in this country,” the president said.
Omoregie said the people’s vote would be a tool to negotiate strength within the South-South region to ensure a positive change in the region.
Premier Bello, who is the Chief Coordinator of the South-South Community in FCT said the group was determined to showcase itself amongst the geo-political zones in the country.
“We want our voices to be heard so as to surmount the challenges facing the region,” Bello said.
Dr. Rufus Ebegba, a member of the group also said that there was no doubt that the South-South region is plagued with a lot of environmental issues.
Ebegba who is also the Director-General of the National Biosafety Management Agency urged the group to make use of the natural resources in the area.
“I think we have human resources and we also have what it takes to give a better standard of living to the people of the South-South region.
“We as a people of the South-South must entrench ourselves into the national system, to be trusted, given sensitive positions, and be inclusive in governance,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group is comprised of the six South-South states namely, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Rivers, and Cross River.