Economic Confidential

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State has described as “enormous and beyond what government would do alone”, the level of work that will be done in the state after the flood would have completely receded.

Obi who stated this in Abuja, said the state was presently assessing the post flood, Anambra State as to determine and quantify the level of destruction as a prelude to understanding what is needed to be done.

“As I have always maintained the issue of displaced people and setting up of camps, which were the first necessities, thrown up by the flood are not major challenges. Some of the people in the camps cannot go home now because their houses, farms and property have been washed away and destroyed by the flood. Resettling such people are among the major challenges we are going to face now,” Obi said.

On how he was able to emerge as the best governor in the handling of flood problem, he said it was because of the savings his government had made for emergency.

“As soon as I became Governor, I noticed the epicurean culture of spending all the resources of the state without savings. At once, I started saving for the rainy day under different headings such as for emergency, for salaries, for investment, among others. Thus, when this flooding occurred, it was easy for us to cope,” he said.

Obi said he had already directed the Ministry of Works and other relevant miniseries to also assess damage to infrastructure by the flood, for the state to start repairs immediately.

He gave example with Ogbaru-Ochuche, Atani-Okiriaziza and Umueze-Anam-mmita road as part of the roads that require immediate attention in the post-flood Anambra State.

On the secret behind financial stability of Anambra when many states are indebted to one financial institution or the other, Obi said it was because of his prudence in the management of the finances of the State.

He said that on assumption of office, he reduced the cost of governance and made it an unwritten policy that the state must leave within her means.