Odioama, a coastal community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, located at the brink of the Atlantic Ocean, is facing a threat to its existence as the overflow of the Atlantic has washed away several houses and settlements.
According to the residents of the area, about 200 houses have already gone down into the river, while other settlements, including farmlands, have also been washed away by the ocean surge that has continued to ravage the community.
Residents are already worried as the next rainy season is approaching, which is certain to raise the water level and spell more doom to the people and their properties in Odioama community.
Though an oil-producing community, Odioama people are ascribing their present condition to many years of neglect by government and the interventionist agencies, saying the river was very far away from where the people settled many years ago but today, it has encroached into the lands.
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Daily Trust gathered that about 200 houses and properties valued at millions of naira have been washed into the river, while residents languish in hopelessness.
It was gathered that not only Odioama community is experiencing the destruction of properties and farmlands by the Ocean encroachment, but also their neighbouring, Sangana community, which is said to be experiencing the worst overflow of water from the river.
A native of Odioama community and former youth president, Mr Ineme Moses, said the ocean encroachment in the community is very rapid, as water from the Atlantic Ocean has continued to flow into the community.
According to him, the distance between the community and the river was very far before now, but today, the river has shifted to people’s backyard, while others have been rendered homeless.
He said: “The ocean encroachment is very rapid, just about four days ago, there was another encroachment that washed away about seven houses, and some portions of land into the river.”
“The ocean encroachment is very rampant here, we don’t know what to do again, though Governor Douye Diri had late last year, during his campaign visit, assured us that he will look into the situation, but nothing has been done yet.
“We have also written to the federal government to use ecological funds to help us, we are in serious danger in Odioama,” he said.
He further said: “More than 200 houses have been washed away already. The sea and the community were very far apart, but now even our cemetery has been washed into the river. Please, government and other relevant authorities should help us, the situation is getting worse.”
Also, Hon. (Dr) Bello Bina, former Chairman of Brass Local Government and native of Sangana community, called on the state and federal governments, as well as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to intervene in the surging level of the sea that has destroyed homes, properties and livelihoods in the community.
He noted that Sangana, an oil-rich coastal community with over seven multinational oil companies operating consistently over the past decades, which has contributed massively to the economy of the state and the nation, is facing the threat of extinction from the devastating surging water levels of the Atlantic Ocean.
According to him, the major occupations of the people of the community are farming and fishing. The surging waters of the sea have grossly affected the people’s sources of income and livelihoods, including residences and properties, generating unrest and fear.
Most of the multinational oil companies such as Chevron Field, Shell Field, Atala Field, Agbami Field, Conoil Field, Bonga Field, Madu Field, First E&P Field etc have been operating in Sangana for decades, but there is no infrastructure and development.
The CEO of Be-Multi World Plus Ltd, Dr Bina, in a statement, urged the state and federal governments to intervene in urgently providing a lasting solution to the challenges facing the people of the community.
He called for more support from the state and federal governments in finding a lasting solution to the devastating perennial flooding in the community.
Highlighting the devastating nature of the constantly rising level of the sea, Bina expressed sadness over the pains experienced by the people of the community, which has become imperative for the state and federal governments to mitigate immediately.
He said: “The state and federal governments, NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, IOCs and other agencies, should as a matter of urgency, intervene and proffer lasting solution to the surging level of the Atlantic Ocean to alleviate the suffering of the people.
“If proactive steps are not taken by the constituted authorities in proffering a lasting solution to the challenges facing the community, the coastal communities might go into extinction in the near future as a result of erosion.”
Odioama River Encroachment Beyond State Government – Gov Diri
The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, during a visit to the ancient community of Odioama in Brass Local Government Area of the state, late last year, empathised with the community on the environmental disaster of sea encroachment that has befallen the people.
He said the scope of reclamation work is beyond the state government, but said the government is making immediate intervention to prevent further damage to infrastructure.
He also directed the immediate renovation of the Primary Health Care and Corpers Lodge, completion of community pavilion and the installation of solar lights in the community, as well as provision of fishing nets for the fishermen and women who have been displaced by the encroaching sea.
“There is hope for our people. The sea encroachment which is a perennial problem of Odioama will now begin to have a solution from your state government.
“Be rest assured that your government will be shoulder to shoulder with you to tackle this encroachment that is hitting our land and our houses,” he said.
He, however, called on developmental partners to join the state government to keep the affected communities safe.
