Bakana people happy over proposed sand-filling, shore protection project

The people of Bakana in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers have expressed joy over the state government’s proposed sand-filling and shore protection project in the community.

The indigenes expressed their feelings in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers recently announced the state government’s plan to sand-fill the swampy area of the community and protect the shore from sea encroachment.

An indigene of Bakana, Mr Pius Oripri, said he was happy about the announcement because the project would protect the community from flooding which had become frequent in the community in recent years.

He said that with the execution of the project, the community could be regarded as major beneficiary of the programmes of the present administration in the state.

Mrs Emmanuella Boma, also an indigene, said the Bakana community had been in dire need of such a project to save it from erosion and flooding.

She said that the Wike-led administration had proved that it was responsive and sensitive to the needs of the masses.

Mr Kingsley Mpaka, also commended the state government for the proposed project, saying “the Bakana people will be eternally grateful if the community is saved from ecological degradation.”

He urged members of the community to support the administration to enable it to do more for them.

Mrs Jane Abele, who also expressed joy over the proposed project, called on the people to cooperate with the contractor that would handle the project to ensure its successful completion.