Nothing captures the pervasive gulf between the ordinary people and those in government as the anguish being experienced by residents of hundreds of communities in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states in the Niger Delta. Large parts of the region are currently submerged by flood waters as the water released from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroun, makes its devastating southward journey towards the Atlantic Ocean through the rivers, Niger, Benue, Orashi and others.
In Bayelsa State, the state government had announced a closure of all schools to prevent loss of lives as the floods made its way down South. The Bayelsa State Government ordered all Primary, Secondary and Private Schools in the state to suspend all academic activities and go on a flood break from Monday 3rd October to Friday 11th November 2022. Yet, this measure has not dented the wall of human suffering brought on. Communities in Bayelsa State under flood waters include Amassoma, Sampou, Odi, Kaiama and others, Governor Douye Diri’s country home in Sampou is partly under water. In 2018, then Bayelsa State governor Seriake Dickson in Sagbama was also affected by the flood that year, with the lower floor of his country home submerged.
Progressive Congress APC Rivers State, studies a
map at the site of flooding in Ahoada West LGA
Many locals have either fled to relatives in communities on higher ground or are compelled to relocate to temporary shelters in schools and town halls which have managed to remain dry. One of those impacted include Inemo Samiama, whose community Kaiama on the banks of the Nun river suffers perennial flooding and is currently, largely massively flooded.
Samiama, an artist and development advocate lived in the United Kingdom for decades and was a member of the respected Ijaw People’s Assembly, of the United Kingdom and Ireland, IPA who returned to Nigeria in 2008 to live among his people and contribute to the development of the Niger Delta, He spoke with National Point in sadness loaded tones said, ‘Sincerely, I don’t know what to say anymore. The floods are here again and we are all impacted. It is probably worse than 2012 and the waters are still rising. Our communities are heavily flooded and our people are suffering. May I appeal to those who can help to please send whatever you can to your family members. The Rivers government released N1billion, Bayelsa State N450million. But before these funds get to the people,Samiama was Country Director [2008-2019] of Stakeholder Democracy Network, SDN, the foremost Not-for-profit, non governmental, in the Niger Delta which documented the 2012 floods.
Rosemary John-Oduone, an Amassoma indigene, who is President of Ijaw Women Connnect, IWC lamented the human suffering brought on the people of Amassoma by the 2022 floods, as did the 2018 and 2012 flood incidents.’Amassoma is badly hit. It is sad that we have to go through this again. We had to move my Mother away from the community on Tuesday’.
In Rivers State, the East-West Road by Friday October 14 2022 was cut off at Ahoada and Mbiama. During a reportorial visit by this publication, scanty traffic was observed on the usually busy route which links the six states of the South-South to Lagos and the South-West West. A team of officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC was parked in predatory wait close to Ahoada, to pounce on motorists who they stopped under the guise of inspecting expired tyres.
Tonye Cole, governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC in Rivers State was in two communities Ihuike and Abarikpo in Ahoada West and Ahoada East Local Government Area, to see the level of impact and commiserate with impacted persons. Over 200 communities in Rivers State have been submerged, while hunger holds a choking grip on the affected, stranded community members. Cole noted during his visit, that, ‘It breaks my heart to see the people of of Ahoada experience such loss of lives and properties on account of the flooding’, In the last 4 years alone, we have gone out each year to give relief materials to flood victims in different parts of the state. But, here’s the truth-these relief materials cannot replace up to 10 percent of what has been lost. We cannot even quantify the lives and properties that have been lost to these floods’.
Cole outlined his plan for a comprehensive engineering strategy to bring a lasting solution to the destructive floods in the state noting that,’ We have spent the last year, studying what has been done countries that share similar features to our Delta region and decided on what is most practical for our state’ Taking a cue from what has been done in the Netherlands, our plan is to build new deep water arterial canals and dykes across over the next 5 years, to provide additional waterways to accommodate increasing water volumes. In addition, we will construct regional reservoirs which serve to collect excess water and can also be adapted for transportation and aquaculture for fish farming’.
Also, governorship candidate of Action Alliance, AA Dawari George visited parts of the affected communities in Ahoada West Local Government Area including Akinima, and parts of Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, including Erema. During the visit, George who was accompanied by his Deputy governor candidate, Tonnie Anoruewhom, a lawyer, expressed shock at the magnitude of devastation and promised to hold dialogue with the displaced persons, on the best way forward to provide lasting solution if elected into office as governor, ‘Part of what we shall do as a government, when we come into office, is to fist commit resources to do several interventionist efforts including dredging, and shore protection’.
At least 605 persons have reported lost their lives across the country. Figures of casualties in the severely affected Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo states are currently not available. A huge humanitarian crisis unfolds in Bayelsa state, where about 300 communities have been submerged and the state cut off from the rest of the country.
