By Chinwe Nwacha, Onitsha
Students of Metallurgical Training Institute, MTI, Onitsha, Anambra State, Thursday, protested alleged sacking of the institute by rampaging flood that came from neighbouring communities of Obosi, Ogidi, and Nkpor, all in Idemili North Local Government Area.
It was gathered that the flood, caused by a construction firm from South Africa, but under the employ of the state Government, channeled the flood into the existing drainage system that passed through the institute, there by over flooding the drainage system and submerged the institute.
Some of the protesting students carried placards with the inscription, "We say no to bad drainage system, we need immediate action, we ask for support and solution, we ask for good environment not flood," among others.
Addressing newsmen during the protest, the President of the Students' union government, comrade Ezeofor C. Onyeyili, lamented that for five consecutive years the institute has been threatened by erosion menace adding that the construction firm worsened the situation by channeling the flood into the institute.
"Ten out of 27 hostels were touched and properties that included, cafeteria, worship centres, multi-purpose hall, computers, generators, stationeries, among others were inclusive," he future explained.
Earlier, the Deputy Director, Works, Engr Ferdinand N. Omeh, regretted that the construction firm channeled the flood to the existing drainage system without adequate provision for expansion to contain the increased volume of flood that consequently submerged the institute.
" The damage caused is more devastating than has been experienced in the past. A good portion of the perimeter fence was pulled down by the flood and if the rain falls again now, it will be better imagined than experienced because the students were woken up by the flood yesterday night," he hinted.
The Deputy Director who spoke on behalf of the Director/Chief Executive Officer, of the institute, Bode D, Fakuade, added that unless something is done now to alleviate the sufferings of the students, the next rain will be great tragedy.
According to him the management of the institute has put a lot of measures financially in tackling erosion menace in the institute until this channeling of the flood worsened the entire efforts.