It was a scene of devastation at the Afia Ekwe Building Materials Market, located between Ogidi and Ogbunike in Anambra State, as flooding caused by heavy rainfall destroyed property worth billions of naira. Traders were left in tears on Friday as their goods were submerged by floodwaters, with some items floating in the water while traders struggled to salvage what remained.
Our correspondent, who visited the scene, reported that the flood, triggered by persistent rain, submerged large portions of the market, wreaking havoc on businesses. The traders revealed that the market was overwhelmed by floodwaters late Thursday night, following the downpour, with significant damage to their merchandise.
In separate interviews, several traders expressed their frustration, describing the losses as devastating. Many of them watched helplessly as the flood swept through their stalls, damaging valuable goods and materials.
The Chairman of the market, Adinnu Onyechi, lamented that flooding had become an annual issue for the market. He emphasized that this year’s destruction was particularly severe, leading to unprecedented losses for many traders.
Despite recurring pleas for intervention, the traders are now calling for urgent action to address the drainage issues causing the flooding, to prevent further devastation in the future.
