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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has said coastal communities in the state were in danger of being submerged by the Atlantic Ocean.
He raised the alarm when he visited Odioama community in Brass Local Government Area to assess the devastation from ocean encroachment.
He stated this while addressing the Odioama council of chiefs, elders, youths and women at the community town hall lamented the effects of coastal erosion on the community and others on the banks of the Atlantic Ocean
Diri’s spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, in a statement, yesterday, quoted the governor as saying he decided to personally visit the community after sending a team to have a first-hand knowledge of the plight of the people.
Diri, who was accompanied by Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange, commissioners and other government officials, assured that the state government would embark on a 1.5 kilometre shore protection project in order to check the ocean surge that had submerged about 250 buildings in the last 10 years.
He said government would commence the shoreline project, while awaiting Federal Government’s collaboration, saying it was beyond his scope to address such challenges in Odioama, Koluama, Sangana, Agge and other communities facing similar threats.
He said engineers in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure would brief the state executive council on the cost of the project.
He called for the intervention and support of the Federal Government on the shore protection project, stating that the Federal Government needed to reciprocate Bayelsa State’s immense contribution to the economic wellbeing of the country.
He said: “l did not come here for political campaign, but rather to see the plight of the Odioama people and have first hand knowledge of what is happening to the community. I cannot sit in my office to hear that houses are giving way. I have been taken round and seen houses that are giving way to the ocean surge. The community’s cemetery has been threatened.”
Responding to the community’s requests, Diri directed the Commissioner for Water Resources to undertake water project in the community as well as directing his Lands and Housing counterpart to take over the building of a pavilion.
On the request for a 500 KVA electricity generator, he said solar lights would be provided instead just as he also approved the construction of a National Youth Service Corps members lodge.
The governor further approved the immediate renovation of the community’s primary health centre, clearing of 200 hectares of land and purchase of fishing nets.
Chairman of the Odioama council of Chiefs, Marlin Omiemunafa, said the visit of the governor has given the community hope.
He said the people were facing an existential threat occasioned by the sea encroachment as about 200 metres of the community had been eroded by the surge.
