With five persons reportedly killed in Adamawa in the ongoing flood in some Northern States, deep worry and agitation is rising in households and communities, in states such as Bayelsa which is expected to be badly hit by the coming flood waters.
In 2022, 2018 and 2012, Bayelsa State, located below sea level geographically, suffered complete inundation whenever the floods came leading to loss of lives and the wiping away of farm produce and other property
Although the Bayelsa State government has set up a Flood and Erosion Committee since October 2022, to guide the state in its flood response, residents say not enough provision has been made in critical areas such as temporary relocation sites at higher ground and provision of direct support to persons living in areas expected to be massively impacted, writes Preye Okah
The 2022 Flood wreaked real, havoc in Bayelsa State. Many of the water channels were blocked by the residents including the high and the mighty in the state who built on water channels leading to blockages of these channels, A water channel at the Okutukutu axis where a dyke was constructed across the canal to supposedly stop water from getting to an Event Center which is said to belong to the wife of an influential politician in the state, is currently raising eyebrows.
The dyke diverted water that flowed from that axis down to Okaka and to Azikoro village to instead of following the natural channel, find its way into Yenagoa metropolis flooding everywhere including, the street that houses the Event Center that blocked its route.
This year, another flood alert has come from the relevant agencies especially from Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). But Bayelsa State government and other relevant stakeholders in the state appear to be paying deaf ears to the alerts.
In the face of this, Bayelsa residents are beginning to be agitated knowing another season of stress is on the way. Most of those spoken to by this reporter said they would leave the state if this year’s flood gets to the level it got to last year.
Although the state had set up a Flood and erosion Control committee, not much has been done as the water channels which are supposed to be cleared to allow for free flow and space for anticipated extra water volume, are still not touched especially at areas like Airforce/Prosco Road up to Azikoro/Cemetery Road, all in Yenagoa. With nothing done to mitigate the flood in the state capital, conditions certainly do not look better for areas outside the capital like, Gbarantoru, Tombia, Agudama, Biseni, Zarama communities.
Also, there are no signs of transit camps for internally displaced persons being set up anywhere around the state capital as it seems that the 2023 governorship election billed for November 11, is the most important thing to the government for now.
At the Okutukutu area of Yenagoa, a dyke was built just across the water channel. This contributed a lot, to the flooding last year. The community people angrily pulled down the dyke but when this reporter went back there recently, the dyke has been reconstructed.
Residents’ Appeal
For fear of a repeat of what they passed through last year, residents have called on the state government to at least clear the canals in the city. They said that if that is done, the effect of the flood will not be too much.
Some residents on Air Force road Okaka, recounting their ordeal last year, called on the state government to quickly move in and clear the canals before the flood comes.
Speaking to this reporter, Mr Wisdom Kelsey, a dog breeder, who is resident at Airforce area, said he was holed up in his apartment inside water last year because of his animals.
He said that packing out the dogs was a big problem and he did not want to inconvenience anybody. “I chose to stay, I did a platform inside my room and stayed. The only time my legs didn’t touch water was when I climbed the bed. It was frustrating. I lost a lot of animals but I just had to be myself and move ahead with my life”, he narrated.
A worried Kelsey appealed to the government to come and clean up the canals stating that, he does not like what is being done by just cleaning up the visible places and leaving places like Airforce which are largely hidden, unattended.
He appealed to the state government to check round with a drone after the cleaning has been done to know if truly, the cleaning has been appropriately done.
A repeat of the flood will still meet him indoors. “For me I don’t have any other place to go to so I will still stay around if the flood comes. I pray it should not be as bad as the previous one.
Mrs Nimiye Allison, 35 years old also staying on Airforce Road, said she doesn’t know where to run to as she does not have anywhere to migrate to.
Allison prayed that this year’s flood will not be as bad as last year’s.
“If it comes like that of last year, we will pack and carry our children to anywhere. I don’t even know where to pack to, no hope of where to pack to yet. “Let the state government come and open this canal for us. Let them clear the canal well so that even if the water comes, it will go.
“For now, everywhere is blocked. I have children. Where am I packing to?” She asked.
Another resident, Madam Preye Dangosu who lives by the canal said she was forced to run away from her house last year because of the flood.
According to her, if the flood comes again as is being predicted, she will just pack to Nembe, her hometown immediately she gets the sign that the flooding is coming.
She said she cannot afford to face the same challenges she faced last year.
Feeding, shelter, access to clean water and medicare were huge challenges to flood victims and money was scarce.
Joining in the call on the State Government to clear the canals, she pointed out that the canals were always cleared yearly basis when Seriake Dickson was governor. An exasperated Allison said: “This governor, I don’t understand. Please let them come and clear the canals because flood is coming again. I can’t face what I faced last year. Instead I will run to my community, Nembe until the flood is over”.
Another woman in her 40s, Madam Preye Gwembe who lives around Prosco Road in the State capital, said she has already constructed a concrete wardrobe and block kitchen cabinet in anticipation of the flood.
“For me, I’m already getting ready. I have done my kitchen cabinet. I have also done wardrobe with blocks so that when the time comes, I will pack all my things on top. My boxes and other important things and will find our way but I’m still praying that it doesn’t come”. Madam Tare Piff Edo like other residents, called on the government to clear the canals stating, “Some of us that have no place to go to will still stay here until the flood subsides. Last year, we were swimming inside the water. The water was more than our waist”.
She asked for financial assistance from government to help them prepare and power supply. “The only assistance we need from the state government is that they should give financial assistance to the masses because prices of things will escalate.
“They should keep constant light. Let them look for sincere Bayelsans that they will give money to share to the people,” she demanded of the Bayelsa State government. She requested that those that will not move into IDP camps should be remembered by giving them money to aid their survival, pointing out that with the fuel subsidy removal, commuting in the flood will pose a serious challenge.
“During last year’s flooding, we were using N200 to enter canoe, this year nobody knows how much the canoe drivers will collect.” She suggested that government should do house counting and give people about N10,000 each, including children, which will go a long way in cushioning the effect of the menace.
“During that time, let them come inside the flood to see things for themselves. Even those that left can be called to come and benefit, it will not be enough for the challenges but at least we will manage it”, she said.
Miss Excel Dangosi, a 20 year old lady, is of the view that flooding will not happen this year. Her conviction is based on the understanding that the big one always comes every 10 years.
She said: “Flood is not coming this year. It comes every 10 years. Even though it is coming, it will not be as bad as last year’s own. It will not near the way it used to happen in this state; it comes every 10 years. Even if it comes, it won’t get to Airforce, it will stop at Tombia.” She stated emphatically.
What residents are planning
Madam Harriet also thinks like Excel. She told National Point that she was rejoicing because the flood will not come this year according to people. According to her, should the flood eventually come, they plan to buy planks and construct some structures in their rooms where they will keep their loads to avoid destruction by water. She said “I have planned, if it comes to Mbiama, we will do a Kpako (wooden structure) in our house and carry our loads up and think of what next to do. I’m not planning anything in particular. I don’t know where to go and I’m not going to that Oxbow Lake (where an IDP camp was setup last year).
A journalist residing at Aeroplane junction, Oxbow Lake, Mike Tayese, said he has already booked for a room at the NUJ Press Center where he took refuge during last year’s flood.
He said all his books were destroyed by flood last year.
A resident of Okutukutu area of the town, Tare Ibomo called on the state government to remove the dyke there before the flood sets in. “Government should come and pull down this thing. Because of the dyke last year, the whole Yenagoa was flooded because this canal was supposed to take this water to Azikoro village but, they have closed the water channel.”
While residents look to government to clear the channels, some are pointing to what individuals can do to help arrest or reduce the effect of flood.
One such person, Ineife Ogilo, asked residents to clear their drainage and stop dumping refuse in the drainages. He said: “Residents should not expect the government to come and clear their gutters. It is not proper. Even as the state government is being tackled, residents should live up to expectations too. “They should stop dumping refuse and plastics in the gutters”.
The Bayelsa State government has received several proposals from concerned Bayelsans and Ijaw citizens on ways to tackle this problem which has become endemic. But not much of the tabled suggestions have been addressed.
The 2023 flood alert came early enough in January, but as of the time of filing in this report, aside from the flood committee being set up, not much has happened.
The residents are not also helping matters as most of them are still busy building on the water channels, further blocking the waterways. Bayelsa State is below sea level and has consistently been flooded in recent years. Last year, it was submerged by floods sinking properties and claiming some lives. Much of its landscape is unplanned making it easy for waterways to be blocked, especially by influential personalities in the state while unsanitary habits by residents compound the matter. The state is one of the nine states clearly marked as places the 2023 flood is going to affect and, a recent call by NIMET had asked the indicated states mainly, in the Niger Delta, Anambra, Kogi, Benue and Taraba states to begin evacuation of their people following a notification to the Nigerian government that Cameroon will be releasing water from its Ladogo Dam to prevent it from bursting as the rains swell the storage.
With government not really forthcoming, concerned citizens are advising that residents in the flood zones, as a matter of urgency, start clearing their gutters right away while the state government should move swamp buggies into the canals to commence clearing. It is hoped that with these and other measures, the havoc that usually comes with the flood may be reduced even though not totally eradicated.
The Bayelsa State government, sister states and groups raised no less than N950 million for flood impact intervention last year but relief came the way of only a significant few. Even persons with disability whom the government set up a camp for, were only dumped there without relief and survived at the mercy of their families, friends and resilience. Only about two philanthropists reached out to them from National Point investigations. Even the Flood Committee could not confirm reaching out to them.
According to the Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency, the state was worse hit by the 2022 flood and about 1.3 million people were flood victims; 96 persons lost their lives.
Prof Winston Belgam a respected Hydrologist provides technical Support to the Bayelsa Flood and Erosion Committee
Belgam informed National Point of the committee’s work which is mostly in the area of providing Technical Support to the flood impact containment efforts in the state.
He made the point that work had started on clearing canals and waterways with efforts concentrated in the Yenagoa metropolis which comprises 14 communities “We have started clearing canals and waterways. Buggies have been deployed to these canals to clear them and also work to deepen them to contain flood waters expected to come in.”
Other areas include a plan to resettle residents on higher grounds. Belgam noted that this however has not started. ”What we are doing now is sensitization of the residents”.
Bayesla State is low lying land that is situated below sea level and faces huge risk of flooding annually. Bayelsa state had all its 8 LGA under water for nearly four months from September-early December in 2022. Weeks after that many communities had large bodies of water lodged in hitherto dry places.
The Director General of Erosion and Flood Control Bayelsa State, Omuso D. Omuso has stated that the Directorate has all it takes to mitigate the challenges that will come with the impending flood in the state even in the face of deep skepticism among residents.
He disclosed that the process of canal clearing was paused due to lack of funds admitting that, immediately more funds are made available, work will continue.
Speaking with National Point on Wednesday September 6,2023 in Yenagoa, the DG said that already, the directorate has been working by clearing the canals before it ran out of funds.
National Point was unable to get figures of how much was voted for the canals clearing. Investigation of actual figures is ongoing.
Omuso said that plans were on the ground for the state government to approve more money for them to continue the clearing of the canals.
He disclosed that the fund was not ready because of the bureaucratic process involved in the civil service.
“All that we need is good funding, and if good funding is available, we are ready to drive this process so that flood will be reduced to the barest minimum and it will not disturb human existence”.
According to the DG, they are trying to open up the channels and the creeks and they are also studying where to allow this water to go.
“We have not reported back that our funds have finished, and in due time, we will report back and there will be funding for us to continue. Even if the governor approves now, it is not something that we will get immediately because of the process.
The DG advised that people should stop building houses along the water channels because “It makes water stop flowing.
“Secondly, residents should stop dropping refuse inside the channels because it slows down the flow of water”.
In the meantime, skeptical residents wait in fear of a repeat of their 2022 nightmare which came with the flood.
