We’ve Got Lasting Solution To Bayelsa Flood -Diri’s Men * Odi Must Vote Diri For Protecting Us From Flooding -MOSIEND Founder
John ODHE, Yenagoa
Although the surging flood is at its worst stage across Nigeria at the moment, the people of Bayelsa, one of the worst hit states, should, at least, be glad that a lasting solution to the reoccurring menace is in the offing.
This cheering revelation is coming from relevant officials of the prosperity government of Senator Douye Diri. But this is, however, contrary to the view of an environmentalist, Moris Alagoa, who told TNN in an interview that there does not seem to be a permanent solution to the flood menace in the state.
The state taskforce committee on flood mitigation and management believes that the only way to manage the ravaging flood situation is to construct water barriers across the shorelines of flood prone coastal communities in the state.
The taskforce committee, at the weekend, went on an on-the-spot inspection tour of the communities affected by the 2022 flood in the state, visiting Yenagoa and Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Areas.
The areas visited include: Yenagoa main town, Obele, Agudama-Epie, Akenfa-Epie and Igbogene-Epie communities in the state capital which were largely submerged.
Other areas inspected by the taskforce in Yenagoa local government were the Zarama/Okodia/Biseni clan where it was observed that all the communities in that axis have been totally submerged as flood victims were seen squatting on the tarred road which is now the only high land in the area and their temporary place of abode.
Suffering was boldly written all over their faces. Hardship, agony and inconveniences that always come with excessive flooding were telling on the victims, who could not hold back their pains but cried to governments at all levels to come their aid.
The ugly tail of a devastating flood was not different at Kaiama, headquarters of KOLGA and other communities in the LG such as Kalama, Gbaran-Ama, Okoloba, Sabagreia, and other communities that are being adversely affected by the disastrous flood.
Bayelsa Task Force On Flood Visits Affected Communities *Promises Succour For Victims
Their farmlands, crops and livelihoods have been washed away even as they have been made homeless. Their primary and secondary citadels of learning have also been engulfed by the waters.
Led by its chairman and Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Iselema Gbaranbiri, the taskforce revealed that the state through the military of works and infrastructure had already kick-started the water barriers construction project using Odi and Sampou communities in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA and Okutukutu community in Yenagoa as pilot areas, adding that the experiment had paid off.
According to Gbaranbiri, Odi community which used to be flood prone is 95 per cent protected from flooding, thanks to the water barrier constructed across its shoreline.
Our correspondent, who was part of the inspection team reports that what protected the River Nun water from overflowing the community was a concrete wall, observing that the water on the riverside was glaringly higher than the land but was unable to penetrate because of the barrier, thereby keeping the community dry, save for some areas where water had to penetrate through canals from the bush.
At Sampou, governor Diri’s country home, a similar feat was experienced as the water level at the riverbank was higher than the ground level but the water was prevented from flowing into the town by a barricade. The water, however, submerged some areas from behind the community through canals from the bush.
The taskforce chairman who was accompanied by commissioners of works and infrastructure, special duties, lands, housing and urban development as well as some permanent secretaries and representative of NEMA, however, called on the federal government to intervene and assist the state government in providing succour for the suffering flood victims.
“We have gone round to see things by ourselves. We are going to right our report and send to the governor for immediate necessary actions. We all know that the prosperity governor, Senator Douye Diri is a man of action and a lover of his people.
Also speaking, the commissioner for works and infrastructure, Moses Teibowei noted that he and his team had noticed the lapses to be corrected in the pilot water barriers, adding that such would be corrected before next flooding season to ensure total protection from flood in those communities.
He added that if funds would be available the water barriers would be replicated in all water prone communities as a lasting solution to the destructive flood in the state.
We’ve Lost Hope In Nigeria’s Leadership, Says Ijaw Youths Leader
Victims Lament:
One of the victims at Akudama community in Biseni Clan, Chief Profit Joel, who has already been chased away by the flood told our correspondent that the suffering as occasioned by the flood could only be best imagined than experienced.
He said “it has been a yearly occurrence and we have been calling for the intervention of governments at all levels to provide for us a lasting solution but to no avail.
We’ve Lost Hope In Nigeria’s Leadership, Says Ijaw Youths Leader
“A lasting solution should be provided to save us from this yearly agony. We are really suffering. We are also appealing to the government to pride us succour by way of sending us relief materials and also evacuate us to a habitable location.”
Also an old woman at Gbaran-Ama in KOLGA who did not mentioned her name said she no longer had a place to put her head, asking in Izon language and interpreted in English that “one can endure hunger but can one stay inside water? How long can one stay inside the water? I am very old. I know I will soon join my ancestors but l don’t want to get drowned. Let the people that are ruling us come and rescue me.”
