Flood Sacks Homes In Edo Community As Residents Blame Abandoned Road Projects

Residents of Ewatto in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State have cried out over severe flooding that has sacked several homes and forced residents to abandon their houses, blaming the development on the alleged abandonment of road projects by the Edo State Government. The affected communities include Idinegbon, Idinwe, Idiselu, Eguare, ID Iyase and Idumeka. The residents, who spoke on Wednesday, said the flooding had worsened following the alleged abandonment of four road projects initiated in the community, leaving drainage and flood channels incomplete and creating conditions that have prevented rainwater from flowing freely. According to multiple accounts, the Edo State Government commenced four road projects in the community in 2024, with the projects reportedly awarded to Niger Construction Limited (NIGERCAT). "The government led by Monday Okpebholo brought the road projects to the community and it was handled by NIGERCAT." However, residents alleged that work on the projects stopped shortly after Senator Joseph Ikpea was elected to represent Edo Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly in August 2025. One of the residents alleged that the timing of the project and its subsequent abandonment had raised concerns among members of the community. "It was as if they brought those roads so we could vote for Senator Ikpea because immediately he was elected, the project was stopped," the resident said. The residents said only minimal work was carried out after NIGERCAT mobilised to the community, adding that the company later left the project sites and removed its equipment. They said the company's signboard was also removed from the sites, leaving residents uncertain about the future of the projects. "We have not seen them till date. They took all their equipment and left. The attempts we made to raise an alarm fell on deaf ears and now flood has started chasing people away from their houses," a resident told SaharaReporters. The residents said the situation has become particularly alarming because the flooding is now threatening homes and forcing families to relocate from areas they have occupied for years. They appealed to the Edo State Government and relevant authorities to urgently intervene before the flooding causes further destruction and completely takes over residential areas in the affected communities. The residents also expressed concern that the current flooding is unusual for Ewatto, saying the community had not previously experienced flooding on the scale currently being witnessed. They attributed the worsening situation partly to the manner in which drainage and flood channels were reportedly handled during the road construction. "Usually, we do not experience this kind of flooding but the flood channels were dug and left halfway during the construction. Now that the rains are back, the flood did not have anywhere to go because they blocked different places all in the name of the projects," a resident said. The residents warned that unless urgent measures are taken to reopen blocked drainage routes, complete the abandoned flood channels and resume the road projects, more houses could be affected as rainfall continues. They called for immediate assessment of the affected communities, proper drainage infrastructure and the completion of the abandoned road projects to prevent further displacement of residents. The development has also renewed concerns among residents over the impact of abandoned public infrastructure projects, particularly where unfinished road construction may alter existing drainage patterns and leave communities vulnerable during periods of heavy rainfall. The residents therefore urged the state government to treat the situation as an emergency and ensure that the affected communities receive immediate assistance while steps are taken to address the underlying infrastructure problems.