Bayelsa Community Raise Alarm Over Flood

Ovie smith yenagoa

Otuoke Community in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have called on the state and Federal Governments as well as all relevant agencies involved in emergencies to intervene quickly to save the community from another round of disheartening scenario as the Cameroonian authorities are set to open the water gates of the Lagdo dam.

Speaking through its Community Development Committee(CDC) Chairman, Mr Okubowei John Godfrey, the community said they have since identified canals, creeks and some blocked natural water ways which needed to be opened to avoid a repeat of the 2022 flood disaster in the community.

Okubowei noted that though the community following her experiences in the 2012 and 2022 ravaging floods have since cleared the blocked natural water ways and even pulled down structures erected on them, the community he said does not have the wherewithal to procure equipments and manpower for the desilting and opening of creeks and canals identified as possible flood flashpoints, hence their appeal.

Otuoke which is the host community of the Federal University in Bayelsa State is also hometown of former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan.

It would be recalled that Otuoke Community was amongst the worst hit by the 2022 ravaging floods which wrecked havoc on both human and Infrastructural Projects, leaving many in penury even as warnings have been given, signalling another impending flood few months from now.

The community said: “In 2012 this community like many others in and outside Bayelsa State suffered from ravaging floods. Last year 2022, this community was amongst the worst hit by the floods in the State.Though in 2012 because we quickly raise the alarm, soccour also came our way quickly, the community didn’t receive much attention during the 2022 floods.

“We’re calling on the state and Federal Governments, all stakeholders and all relevant agencies of the Government to come to our aid. Government should come build IDP camps and other facilities which would cater for the needs of the community as the floods are coming. Government must not wait until the floods start proper before putting these structures in place. It may be too late then.”

They also added:”Luckily we’ve identified creeks, canals and other channels through which the floods affects this community. But as we speak, we’ve not seen the government clearing any of the blocked canals or creeks in this community like they’ve done in some parts of the state.”

Amongst areas identified by the community as possible flashpoints of the floods were, the Ebirimo, Ologakpo, Elabio and Okiko canals.

However, the community said also of importance is the clearing of the Elebele-Otuoke-Ogbia town creek, noting that when the identified areas are taken care of, the floods won’t affect the community so much again.