Akwa Ibom Orders Flood Checks After Uyo Residents Block Highway

Akwa Ibom State has ordered emergency checks in flood-prone communities after heavy rain submerged parts of Uyo and pushed residents to block a major highway in protest.

The flooding affected several areas in the state capital, including Nkemba, Abak Road, Ukana Offot, Port Harcourt Street, Tabernacle Road, Osongama and Nsikak Eduok Avenue. Residents said homes, property and livestock were damaged.

Some residents of Tabernacle Road barricaded Ikot Ekpene Road, disrupting traffic on the route linking Akwa Ibom with Abia and Cross River states. They blamed delayed road work, blocked drains and poor maintenance for the repeated flooding.

Governor Umo Eno, represented by Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi, directed the Akwa Ibom State Emergency Management Agency and the Ministry of Environment to assess affected areas and recommend immediate intervention.

Eyakenyi said early reports showed that some locations would need desilting of drains and culverts, while illegal structures blocking natural waterways may have to be removed for longer-term flood control.

Channels TV also reported that residents around Church of Christ on Abak Road in Iboko Community said floodwater pulled down a church fence and submerged parts of the church premises, including the pastor’s house.

Akwa Ibom has been listed among states vulnerable to flooding in 2026 by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency. Uyo, Eket and Oron were among the urban areas identified as at risk.

Sources: Premium Times, Channels TV