Obogoro Community Erosion Control Project Not Abandoned-Bayelsa Government

Bayelsa State Government has given assurance that the erosion control project in Obogoro Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area has not been abandoned.
The assurance was in direct response to lamentations of neglect and a seven-day ultimatum issued by concerned members of the community to the state government to address the 10 year agony they have faced battling erosion. The people had decried inaction to a menace that has claimed lives and destroyed several properties.
Desperate for attention, the people had placed on notice, their desire to take to the streets on for peaceful protest stating, that they will carry their canopies, cooking pots, sleeping mattresses and continue to sleep in front of the Bayelsa State Government House gate until the contractor for the erosion mitigation project is mobilized to site.
In a swift reaction, the Bayelsa State government said some reports about the state of work on the project were incorrect and grossly inaccurate.
A press release by governor’s chief press secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said, on the contrary, the project was on course and that the government was committed to finding a lasting solution to the erosion menace.
While empathizing with the community over the negative effects of the coastal erosion, including the loss of lives, land, property and sources of livelihood, Governor Diri urged the community to keep faith with the government to rescue the situation.
He said he had visited the community and had also been briefed about the outcry of the community over the issue and advised those trying to use the project to fan the embers of discord to desist from doing so.
The governor said Obogoro was not the only community affected by erosion pointing out that similar environmental menace exists in other parts of the state including his own community, Sampou.
Diri said he had just received a detailed report from the state ministry of Environment on the Obogoro erosion project and had given directives on how to address the menace permanently.
According to him, part of the report showed that the site clearing and part-dredging had been done and the sum of N750million had been spent on the ongoing project so far.
He further stated that at a meeting between government and the community, agreement was reached to suspend the dredging works and that the project be redesigned to include shoreline protection.
“Also, the ministry subsequently engaged a technical team, which carried out survey map of the project site, bathymetric and topography survey and geo-technical studies,” the state government further disclosed.
“Obogoro cannot therefore claim to be neglected as this administration has built schools, health centre and roads among other projects in the community as well as appointed a commissioner and other senior officials of the government from that community,” part of the government statement read.