The people of Sangana community in Brass local government Area of Bayelsa state have not had it easy in the last six months as a gas leak that occurred at a Conoil Adriatic one rig in November 1, 2021 has rendered the land impotent, according to locals.
During a recent visit on a fact finding mission to Sangana community that lasted for six days, so many things about the community were unveiled. The visiting team was led by Ibiba DonPedro, a journalist and Executive Director, Niger Delta Women International Resource Environment & Development Centre, NDWIRED CENTRE Getting to the community from the Yenagoa capital was cumbersome as the boat took two solid hours to get to the community, amidst the rough currents and meandering of the creeks.
And it was discovered that beside the gas leak, other myriad challenges confront the Sangana people. One of which was ocean encroachment which has eaten up about half of the community.
Most of these challenges are caused by oil exploration as several oil companies are currently operate in the community, among them Conoil Producing, Chevron Nigeria Ltd and First Exploration.
For the women they do not even know which challenge to tackle, as the fisher women are crying out that they cannot get sufficient fish anymore after hours out fishing, because of the gas leak. Yet, many of them are now Internally Displaced Persons IDPs, in their own ancestral land because the sea has eaten up their buildings and lands.
They were all lamenting to the advocacy group as if they have solution to all their problems.
The group started the day with a town hall meeting where the women voiced out their challenges hoping that help would come in a short time.
Speaking at the meeting, Mama Ibiawor Adogiye in her sixties said “Due to what happened, our eyes are now affected. When we wash up at the water side, it gives us rashes. Many fishes died unknown to us, we ate the fishes and we were affected. The government should do something about our boats and nets that have been abandoned. Let the government do something about them.
Ayibatonye Tariya, the new women leader commenting on the effect of the gas leak said “We were uprooting rotten cassava and rotten plantains and they affected us. After some days fishes were floating on the river’.
Also Martins Pama, Fifty two years old whose house is already being swallowed by the sea said “ My uncle built this house but by then, they had come to pile this place in 1992 and after then we hoped that we are safe and that was why I advised my uncle to come and build here then. Then later on, that piling they did collapsed. Then, this place was very lengthy. You can trek from here to that far place (Pointing far out to the sea )From the time that the piling collapsed, it started cutting till this extent. Now we are planning to relocate to another place.
“The community has asked the company that abandoned the piling project to come and do it but they said that they can’t do it alone. They said that it is federal government that will do the job. Since then, I didn’t hear anything again. There was a road around there and some upstairs then and there were big compounds that we were playing football. We didn’t know that it will get to this stage. Most of the time, when the big tide comes, the water gets as close to the house and we become afraid. But since I began to live here, I have that courage that it won’t get to my house. Most times, when Im sleeping because of the noise I can’t sleep well. If I sleep like two hours, I wake up. Now I’m planning to leave this place but it is money that is holding me. I believe that these companies here and government can remedy the situation. The federal government can even do it. This place is one of the place that is generating money to the federal government. Let them come and help us.
In her reaction, Ayibatonye John a middle aged woman in her forties recounting her ordeal with the ocean encroachment said “That green boat (pointing into the sea) floating in the river there was our family land where I built my house before the erosion washed everything away.
“This long bridge to the end is old Sangana, the water has washed the old Sangana away. Sanagan is divided into three parts. This part of Sangana is old Sanagna, the middle and the new Sangana. The erosion has washed away the old Sangana. It is old few houses that are remaining. You see all these buildings around here, it is through the mercy of God that they will stay till this year ending.
“Before when I was very small, I used to walk around that place that you are seeing waves. Water has washed away plenty part of Sangana. Even the companies that are drilling oil here I believe are contributing to the problem. You see Adriatic one (pointing into the deep ocean) managed by Conoil, the other one is Chevron Texaco, this one is gun boat guiding the Conoil. All these companies are operating here but they are not doing well to the community.
“NDDC has abandoned that shore protection project. We are begging whosoever is in charge to come and complete the project. Our life is in danger. Erosion has washed everything away. The water has washed many part of Sangana away. The community is just remaining only two parts now. We had old, middle Sangana but the erosion has washed away old Sangana and has eaten deep into the middle Sangana now. People should come and witness what is going on in Sangana community. The waves have driven us away.
Beatric Amaigbe- The erosion has eaten our land
Beatrice Amaigbe eighteen years old secondary school graduate said “This erosion has eaten Sangana community and our families are in danger. Sangana community is the biggest clan in Akassa but now it is becoming the smallest based on the erosion. Our family members are packing to school, our towns halls. We are not safe.After now, nowhere for us to stay here again. We may have to shift to another community. Bayelsa State government, Conoil, you should help us. We are becoming endangered species.
Ofoin January, a teacher in his sixties and an IDP now living in the school compound said “My gratuity has not been paid and along the line the erosion has destroyed our houses. If you go to the other side (pointing into the sea) you will see our houses there. At the moment we are living at the dilapidated school building. Let there be help for us. The house we are living now is being destroyed. Let them build a house for us if possible. I have been living in the primary school since this year. We shifted from one place to another until water came and took over everywhere.
Amaigbe Seiyegha a 70 year old man a fisher man with two houses by the sea ravaged coast, communicating in pidgin English said “When the wave comes, all these dirt get to my house so I don’t know where to sit down in my house. As I speak now, I can’t see you very well again because of the gas explosion. These mango fruits if you eat them they taste of gas. We have talked to people to come and help us but no way. We are just like that. I have built another house inside but no money to finish it.
“I’m a lone man, no partner, no brother, no sister. My father gave birth to only me. All the house I struggled to build them but now no money again and the other one is at the window level. No money to complete it. Let government help us with money so that I will complete my house. His first house has been nearly completely swallowed by the hungry sea.
