The existence of several coastal settlements is under jeopardy, with the most recent example coming from Bayelsa state’s Brass Local Government Area.
During his visit to the impacted areas, the state governor, however, appealed to the federal government and other interventionist agencies for assistance in saving coastal communities from being swamped by the Atlantic Ocean.
A long-standing issue that has afflicted coastal communities in Bayelsa State has spurred Governor Douye Diri to take a boat journey to the Odioma community in the Brass local government area.
The Governor is escorted to a first-hand evaluation of the devastation caused by the ocean surge on the neighborhood, which includes the destruction of another building due to water encroachment.
The state government is planning a 1.5km shore protection project to combat the ocean surge that has buried approximately 250 buildings in the last decade.
With over 130 Meters of land and buildings lost to the ocean, some of the victims and community leaders lament the situation.
While the state government has promised to begin work on shoreline protection, more collaboration is needed in many other communities affected by coastal erosion in the Niger Delta region.
