Erosion menace ravages 264 Delta communities

.Destroys 82 houses, 31 persons feared killed
…As flood kills Village head, 5 others in Niger

Perennial erosion menace currently rampaging 264 Delta Communities has destroyed about 82 houses, with 31 persons feared killed in the last two months.

Investigation revealed that worse hit areas include Gbaramutu Kingdom, in Warri South West, Agbor, Ozoro Burutu, Bomadi, Kwale, Asaba-Awai, others.

In Warri-South West Local Government Area and Agbor, for instance, some of the residents have fled their homes for fear of the unknown including destruction wreaked by the heavy erosion on their buildings.

Speaking to our reporter, Chairman of Kokodiagbene Community in Warri South West Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Sheriff Mulade, who raised the alarm of possible desolation of the community following the unabated flood menace, expressed fear that the community might soon be washed off and that there won’t be anywhere known as Kokodiagbene on the map of Warri South West if urgent steps are not taken to curb the situation.

While calling on the federal state governments to come to the aid of the community and save the people of the area from being sacked by the erosion, Mulade recalled that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in response to the threat of the erosion in the community, awarded a contract for the reclamation of the community in 2002 but was abandoned since then.

Further investigation revealed that areas such as Ebu/Ilah communities hitherto suffer untold erosion menace with many of the houses near destruction, and the road impassive.

Some of the residents of the areas, who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity, blamed the erosion menace on the state government’s failure to address the problem with seriousness, adding, “The government has failed us hence we have been turned refuges and no hope in sight, our houses destroyed and some of us killed by the menace.”

But the Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. John Nani, in a swift reaction, said as part of the proactive measures aimed at curtailing flooding and environmental challenges in the state, the state government had been involved in frantic efforts aimed at salvaging the challenge.

According to him, part of the proactive measures includes the mechanical desolation of drains, channels and natural waterways across the 25 local government areas of the state.

Other measures, the commissioner said, include the deliberate fumigation/deratisation of major markets and dump sites across the state, aimed at eradicating pests/vector related diseases in the state.

Regretting the havoc caused by the rampaging erosion in many of the communities in the state, Nani explained that the state government had since constituted a taskforce on environmental sanitation charged with the responsibility of checking indiscriminate dumping of refuge as well as enforcing compliance with the state environmental laws and guidelines by residents of the state.

Meanwhile, no fewer than six persons have been confirmed dead following a flood that wreaked havoc in Mashegu and Borgu local government areas of Niger State.

About 600 houses were destroyed in the affected areas with many public buildings not spared.
According to report from the area, the incident occurred after a heavy downpour which affected the people of Ibbi town in Mashegu Local Government Area.

It was learnt that heaven opened at night and water took over the whole town leaving the people helpless which led to the death of five people.

Another sources added that the village head of Awuru was feared dead in the flood which occurred in Borgu Local
Government Area of the state.

However, chairman of the council, Alhaji Ahmed Baba Suleiman, in an interview, confirmed that houses, livestock and farmlands were destroyed by the flood.

It was further gathered that about 500 animals were washed away by the flood in Ibbi town with food items worth millions of naira also washed away and numerous number of farm land affected.

Findings revealed that the affected villagers are now taking refuge at school and neighbouring communities who are finding it difficult to cope with themselves and children.

When contacted, Chairman, Mashegu Local Government Area, Alhaji Shuaibu Kaboji, appealed to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and other relevant agencies to as a matter of urgency come to the aid of the affected people who are now displaced temporarily due to the flood.

Also contacted, Director General, NSEMA, Alhaji Ibrahim Inga, confirmed the incident and assured that the agency would soon make available relief materials and tents so as to provide succour for the affected victims, noting that flood has also affected communities in Agaie Local Government Area of the state.