The National Emergency Management Agency, Imo State office, on Tuesday took its flood prevention campaign straight to the traders at Relief Market, Owerri. Their message was blunt: stop dumping rubbish in the gutters — you're the ones causing the flooding.

NEMA South-East Zonal Director, Walson Ibarakumo, told the traders that the habit of throwing refuse into drainage channels during rainfall is the reason Owerri floods every time it rains heavily.

“We've come to appeal to you to always dispose of your refuse properly to avoid blocked drainage. When you throw refuse into gutters during rainfall, you harm yourself in the long run,” Ibarakumo said.

He warned that if any part of the market gets flooded, the government will order a closure. That means traders lose business, and the market shuts down — all because of rubbish that could've been disposed of properly.

NEMA Head of Operations for Imo and Abia States, Nnamdi Igwe, backed up the warning with weather forecasts. He said the predictions have already flagged Imo State as a flood-risk area this season.

“With the torrential winds and rainfall patterns, it's not safe for you to dispose of refuse anyhow. Please dispose of them properly so as to avoid flooding,” Igwe said.

But he went further. He told the traders that a dirty market isn't just an eyesore — it's a health hazard. Accumulated refuse can trigger epidemics like cholera, dysentery, and typhoid.

“Please take your health seriously because it's cheaper to be healthy than to treat avoidable concerns like cholera, dysentery, typhoid and the like,” Igwe said.

The traders didn't disagree. But they pointed out a problem: there aren't enough waste bins in the market to handle the amount of rubbish they generate.

Mrs Cecilia Okechukwu, one of the traders, called for sustained sensitisation to help traders form the habit of keeping their surroundings clean. Other traders appealed to the Eastern Waste Management Agency (EWAMAC) to provide waste bins throughout the market.

The rally was attended by officials from the Imo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Federal Road Safety Corps, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the Federal Fire Service, and journalists.

  • NEMA began market sensitisation on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at Relief Market, Owerri.
  • Walson Ibarakumo is the NEMA South-East Zonal Director.
  • Nnamdi Igwe is the NEMA Head of Operations for Imo and Abia States.
  • Weather forecasts have warned that Imo State is at risk of flooding this season.
  • Traders say Eastern Waste Management Agency (EWAMAC) hasn't provided enough waste bins in the market.