Several houses were submerged, on both sides of the Awka- Onitsha old highway, following the flood that is ravaging Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government area of Anambra State.

The development was worsened by a heavy rainfall in the early hours of Monday. Many residents affected by the flood are already packing their belongings and relocating to safer areas of the state.

Several vehicles were also stuck in the flood that has completely taken over about two kilometers of the ever -busy road, and, as a result, motorists have been diverting to nearby villages where youths mounted tolls and forced the drivers to pay before being allowed to pass.

Worried by the development, the youths of Ogidi took to the flooded highway with placards and calling on both the federal and state governments to intervene immediately so as to save the community from further destruction.

President of Ogidi youths, Mr. Chris Obi Okafor, who led the protest, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Chukwuma Soludo to save the community by tackling the problem without delay.

In an emotion- laden speech he made while standing on the flooded road, Okafor lamented that the economy of the area has been grounded because of the flood, which, he added, has been a recurring feature every rainy season.

He said, “Every rainfall in our community has become a nightmare. What used to be a blessing from God has now become a season of fear, sorrow, and destruction. The flood disaster in Ogidi has gone beyond ordinary suffering; it has become a humanitarian crisis.

“Our fathers can no longer go to their farms with peace because cash crops and economic trees worth millions have been washed away. Businesses are collapsing daily. Roads have become rivers. Homes are flooded. Movement has become almost impossible.

“Even the palace and surroundings of our revered Traditional Ruler, Igwe Ogidi, are not spared. Whenever rain falls, the area becomes impassable. If the palace of our traditional ruler can be overtaken by flood, then tell us, where exactly is safe in Ogidi?”

Okafor said further: “Our children are the ones suffering the most painful fate. Each time rain falls, many children cannot go to school. Imagine the future we are creating when our children are forced to stay at home every rainy season. Imagine the dreams that are dying silently because a child cannot cross flood waters to access education.

“We plead with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for urgent federal intervention before lives are lost. Your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, we speak to you today with heavy hearts. Ogidi has supported this government with our whole being.”

“We have stood faithfully with the progress of Anambra State, but today, our people look back in pain and ask: In what way have we offended the government?”

“Mr. Governor, please do not ignore our cries. We have no other place to run to. Do not allow Ogidi to perish in silence.”

He also called on the Federal Ministry of Works, the Anambra State Ministry of Works, as well as emergency management agencies and other relevant authorities responsible for tackling erosion and flood disasters in Nigeria, to come to their aid.

“This is not politics; this is about human lives; this is about children; this is about survival”, Okafor pleaded.

The traditional ruler of Ogidi, Igwe Alexander Onyido, while addressing the youths, urged them not to take the law into their hands, even as he commended them for being peaceful.

The Royal Father said he would lead a delegation of the community to see Governor Soludo on the issue.
He recalled that the governor had promised to tackle the flood and wondered what is causing the delay.

The United States has disbursed a total of $187,352,312 in foreign assistance to Nigeria in 2026, according to updated data published on the US Department of State website on May 20, 2026, under the ‘US Foreign Assistance’ report.

According to the data, Nigeria emerged as the second-largest recipient of US assistance in sub-Saharan Africa during the period, behind Ethiopia.

The bulk of the funding was implemented through the US Agency for International Development, which accounted for $186,715,308 of the total disbursement.

It was followed by the Department of State with $370,210, the Department of Defence with $240,146, the Department of the Interior with $16,456, the Department of Agriculture with $10,042, and the Department of Transportation with $150.

Several agencies recorded no disbursements for the period. These include the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Department of Health and Human Services, Trade and Development Agency, African Development Foundation, Department of the Treasury, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, the Peace Corps, Environmental Protection Agency, the US Army, the US Navy, the US Air Force, the Inter-American Foundation, and its International Development Finance Corporation.

The disclosure comes at a time when US lawmakers are weighing tighter conditions for future assistance to Nigeria.

Last month, the US House Appropriations Committee advanced provisions in the proposed 2027 appropriations bill that would impose stricter oversight on funding to the country.

Under the proposal, up to 50 per cent of US assistance to Nigeria could be withheld until the Secretary of State certifies that the Federal Government is taking effective steps to address insecurity, protect vulnerable populations, and ensure accountability for perpetrators of violence.

The bill also introduces cost-sharing requirements and links future funding to progress in counterterrorism efforts, human rights protections, and humanitarian response.

The measure still requires approval by the full US Congress and the President before it can become law, but it reflects growing concern among US lawmakers over ongoing violence in Nigeria, particularly attacks affecting Christian communities.

The Federal Government has consistently rejected allegations of religious persecution, maintaining that insecurity in the country affects citizens across all faiths, while reaffirming continued cooperation with the US on security reforms.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has warned that the risk of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) entering the country is high, following a fresh dynamic risk assessment conducted in response to the expanding outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

In a public health advisory released on Sunday, NCDC said the risk assessment was carried out to guide anticipatory and response measures, ensuring the country remains vigilant and prepared.

The assessment showed that the likelihood of Ebola importation is heightened by several factors, including ongoing transmission in neighbouring countries, increased international travel, population movement, and uncertainties regarding the full scale of the outbreak.

NCDC further noted that early detection may be challenging, as Ebola symptoms often overlap with endemic illnesses common in Nigeria such as malaria and Lassa fever raising concern about possible delayed recognition of cases.

The assessment also mapped out high-risk states, border communities, major transport hubs and Points of Entry (PoEs) where surveillance and readiness activities have now been intensified.

“This assessment estimated the risk of Ebola importation into Nigeria as high due to the ongoing transmission in the DRC and Uganda, international travel and population movement, uncertainty regarding the full magnitude of the outbreak, and the potential for delayed recognition because symptoms may overlap with endemic diseases such as malaria and Lassa fever.

“It also identified high-risk states, border communities, major transport hubs, and Points of Entry (PoEs),” the agency explained.

It said these locations represent critical points for timely case detection, isolation and response should an imported case occur.

NCDC assured the public that it has strengthened coordination through the National Incident Management System and placed the National Emergency Operations Centre on alert mode, while urging Nigerians to remain calm and adhere to public health advisories.