Flood: Rivers community leader begs FG for long-term remedy for Niger Delta

A Paramount ruler in Rivers, King Bubaraye Dakolo of Ekpetiama Kingdom in Kalokuma/Opukuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa, has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently find a long-term solution to the perennial flooding in the Niger Delta region.

Dakolo, made the assertion in an interview with journalists on Thursday in Port Harcourt, said the people’s suffering was so much that some had resort to sleeping on treetops with no hope as regards who would ameliorate their situation.

Describing the recent flood disaster that ravaged Bayelsa and its environs as worrisome, Dakolo said that shore protection, regular dredging of existing canals and consistent dredging of the River Niger were key to tackling the challenge of flood in the region.

“I think the Federal Government should set aside an intervention fund that would specifically carter for shore protection to check overflow of the water bodies as most perennial flooding in the region were attributed to overflow of the rivers,” he said.

Dakolo said that having suffered the 2012 flood crises, it was expected that the government should have embarked on a long-term mechanism to guard against a recurrence.

“It’s disheartening that after the horrible flood experienced in 2012, the Federal Government has yet to ensure adequate long-term measures to forestall further disaster,” he said.