Earth Tremor: Rivers Communities Bemoan Cracks In Buildings

Some residents in four
communities in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, have cried out to the government and multinationals to come to their aid over cracks experienced in their buildings following an earth tremor that occurred in the area some weeks back.
They complained that the tremor, which occurred last June has been left uninvestigated when they said it was a source for serious concern.
The paramount ruler, Edagbiri, Betterkut Community, one of the affected communities, Jacob Obelle, listed the affected communities, to include, Oroma, Akinosho, Edagbiri, Joinkrama and One-man country.
Obelle expressed fear that the cracks which occurred as a result of the tremor could increase and cause parts or whole buildings to collapse, putting the lives and properties of the people at risk.
He further said the communities were yet to get succor from either the government or multinationals since the incident.
According to him, “we noticed a very serious tremor within the night period and it shook almost every house in the community. If I should conduct you around you will see so many houses on cracks in the walls. We’re believing that the tremor occurred because of oil exploration activities in the Edagbiri”.
He lamented that in spite  of oil exploration activities in the area no government presence could be seen, “we are afraid that this community will sink one day. We produce over 48 oil wells and not a single federal, state or local government project in this community”.
Meanwhile, a town planner with the State Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning, who would rather not mention his name, stated it was risky to continue living in those houses with cracked walls, saying that such buildings ought to be brought down by the Department of Town Planning in the Ministry.

Tonye Nria-Dappa