By Jide Dominic, Yenagoa
As a result of the devastating erosion that has eaten deep into some parts of Odi community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State residents of the sleepy community have cried out to the federal and state governments, and the interventionist agencies like the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other stakeholders to save some parts of the community from extinction.
Popular News gathered that a popular hotel in the most affected area of the community is on the verge of complete collapse.
One of the residents whose building is also affected, Madam Flora Imbazi, who was visible angry with the urgly situation, lamented that the ordeal she is going through is becoming unbearable, regretting that many government agencies have visited the site but have not done anything about it.
Speaking to newsmen on the issue, the Vice Chairman, Council of Odi Kingdom, Chief Lumumber Izonfou, noted that he had set up a 5 man Committee to liase with the state government and other relevant agencies with a view to finding a lasting solution to the devastating erosion that had made the people to have sleepless nights.
Chief Izonfou lamented that the erosion that started some months ago is very sad, adding that the Committee had met with the state’s Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure, Tebowei Moses, who said erosion matters are not under his purview but that of the Ministry of Environment.
The monarch further reiterated that the Commissioner promised to liase with his colleague in the Ministry of Environment to provide a temporary solution to the issue for now as the project is capital intensive.
He said that with the current raining season, the erosion is becoming more threatening as the people in the affected area are finding it difficult to move around, stressing that the immediate intervention by relevant authorities on the issue is urgently needed to avoid the area being eroded completely.
He appealed to Governor Douye Diri to step into the matter by driving the process of putting an end to the ravaging erosion, adding that it would be disastrous for the community to be wiped out of existence.
He emphasized that it is the primary responsibility of government to provide adequate security for the people, adding that majority of the owners of the properties affected are poor people and the situation calls for immediate emergency.
