FG Moves To End Coastal Erosion In Bayelsa

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja 

The Federal Government has restrategised to end flooding and coastal erosion, as well as restore livelihoods in Bayelsa State. 

This feat was accomplished with the ongoing remediation works at the Shoreline Protection and Reclamation Project at Emadike, Ogbia Local Government Area of the state. 

The project captures a 850m shoreline protection using the sheet pile method to tackle ocean surge and a 16 hectare land reclamation using sand filling to terminate flooding and erosion that devastated the community . 

At the inspection of the project during the week, the Permanent Secretary of Ecological Project Office (EPO) Malam Shehu Ibrahim described it as historic and impactful. 

He said that Emadike project is one of numerous interventions by the EPO meant to address coastal and flooding challenges in the community, just as he commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the project. 

"This is the kind of intervention Mr President likes as it impacts the community directly. I am also impressed with how the community organised itself in terms of having the youth and vigilante vanguards to maintain and secure the project," he added. 

Ibrahim informed that the perennial floods which had resulted to loss of lives and properties in the neighborhood over the years ended in 2022 as the Federal Government awarded contract for the project. 

He said that the project provided a safe shelter for other communities during the rainy season. 

The Group President of Azikel Group Ltd, Dr Azibapu Eruani, disclosed that the intervention addressed two significant areas such as protecting the coastal borders and preventing  flooding. 

Eruani, who is also the Project Contractor thanked the Federal Government and EPO on behalf of the community for the intervention.  

Explaining the scope of the project, the consultant, Engr. Ebipamowe Wodu of Toru- Ebi Konsult, noted that the contractor executed the project according to specifications, pegging the life span of the project at 25 years.

 

Chairman of the Community Development Council (CDC) Mr Johnson Jeremiah, appreciated President Buhari for approving such a great job, which pulled the community out of annual flooding. 

The permanent secretary also inspected the ongoing shoreline protection in Tombia and Agudama communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state. 

He was dissatisfied with the slow pace of work at the site, just as he gave the contractors a three-week ultimatum to meet up on the timelines of the project. 

 He promised to revisit the site to monitor their level of compliance.