The impacted communities are, Ologoghe, Emadike, Epebu, Otuobhi amongst others in the state.
The ravaging flood has wreak havoc on rural dwellers, properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed, as the communities are on the verge extinction sequel to the tidal flood that has washed away a large portion of the landmass of the affected communities.
While tidal erosion and flood account for the extinction of several communities in the Niger Delta region, Bayelsa Industrial businessman, the President of Azikel Group of Companies, Dr Azibapu Eruani has said the trend would continue until the Federal Government empathize with the people and partner with the private sector to embark on reclamation, sand filling and embankment on these affected communities.
This, Azikel Group President, accompanied by the Executive Director of the Group, Mr Presley Asemota said when he paid a courtesy visit to the Obanohban, the Paramount Ruler of Ogbia Kingdom, HRM Dumaro Charles Owaba in his palace in Yenagoa.
Eruani lamented the untold hardship that residents in these affected coastal communities have suffered, decrying the wanton destruction of properties by the high current flood, resulting in economic woes, just as many have been displaced to take refuge in neighbouring towns.
Said he ‘’while the affected people and communities have continued to count their losses, many except aged persons have been forced out of their ancestral homes to take refuge in neighbouring towns.
Eruani, however, noted that the antidote to flooding is the reclamation of land and massive sand filling to regenerate land and save the affected communities from extinction.
The Azikel Group President, who noted that the process of resettling the communities is beyond the purview of any single individual, said he would put in his best to address the problem; and called on the Ogbia monarch, King Owaba to prevail on the government at all levels to support the reclamation, sand filling, and regeneration project to resettle the people/communities.
‘’Government at all levels must act fast, just as I do know that the cure to flooding is massive reclamation, sand filling and regeneration of lost landmass.
“To put it on record, I will put in my best to address the malaise, but my strength will not be enough because it’s beyond an individual; and that necessitated the visit for the Obanobhan, HRM Owaba to inform the government at the state and national level of the humanitarian emergency in Anyama clan, particularly Otuobhi, Emadike, Epebu and Ologoghe communities of Ogbia LGA in Bayelsa state.
He explained that with the huge success already recorded by Azikel Group in sand filling and reclamation in combating flood disasters in Rivers State, the conglomerate supported by government at all levels was prepared to re-enact the feat in Bayelsa and other affected states.
Responding, His Royal Majesty, King Owaba who was deeply touched by the plight of the communities, assured the Azikel Group President that his council of traditional leaders would make a recommendation to the presidency to redress the situation.
He thanked the industrial businessman, Dr Eruani for bridging the unemployment gap in the state and Niger Delta, particularly for employing teeming Bayelsans and Nigerians in the subsidiary companies under the Azikel Group.
To this end, King Owaba, who lauded his patriotism and response to humanitarian needs, described him as a humble leader and prayed for the speedy completed of his private refinery that has attained 65 percent completion in the state.
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