Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Sam Ogbuku literarily sobbed on Sunday as he went round the Joinkarama community of Rivers State, whose residents have since been disconnected from the rest of the world, following last year’s flood.
The managing director who was touched by what he saw and comments by the people said the commission would begin remedial work on the Akinima-Joinkarama road immediately.
But he said the long term solution to their plight would be to undertake the shore protection of the affected communities.
Ogbuku was accompanied to the area by the Executive Director Projects, Mr. Charles Ogunmola and other Directors of the Commission.
The NDDC boss observed that the damage on the road was enormous and would, therefore, require short and long-term solutions.
He said: “We will move into action immediately to provide an alternative route while the permanent solution to the erosion problem was being addressed.
“This is a major road linking many communities in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State. Obviously, there is no way people can access this road because of the damage caused by erosion.”
Ogbuku and his team had visited the creeks of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, up to the Escravos, on Fridayy.
On Saturday, the were at the “erosion site in Rivers State because we received several complaints about the serious situation here.”
He said that it was important for him and the team of engineers to visit the site to have a first-hand information for proper assessment and appropriate response.
“From what we have seen, the long-term solution will be to provide shore-protection for the road and the communities.”
A community leader in Joinkarama, Mr. Ovie-Oniso Kelvin, lamented that the Orashi River, which passes through the area, contributed to the gully erosion that destroyed the road and appealed to development agencies to come to their rescue, even as he deplored the level of environmental degradation, poverty and neglect in the area.
