Education
Ocean Surge Destroys Homes In Bayelsa Community
Chairman of Odioama Council of Chiefs, Chief Marlin Omiemunafa, has raised an alarm over persistent existential threat to the community by an ocean surge that has wiped off about 250 homes.
Odioma community in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, sits on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
Hundreds of community dwellers have already been displaced as their homes have been washed off by the frightening ocean surge.
Omiemunafa raised the alarm while receiving Governor Douye Diri to the ocean threatened community.
He told the Governor that the people were facing an existential threat and urged the government to intervene urgently.
Earlier, Governor Diri said his administration will begin immediate remedial work, while waiting for the Federal Government to intervene for a permanent solution.
Accompanied on the visit by Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere; Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange; Commissioners and other officials, he assured that the state government will embark on a 1.5km shore protection project.
Diri said the government would commence the shoreline project while awaiting Federal Government’s collaboration.
Diri said engineers in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure will on Wednesday brief the State Executive Council on the cost of the project.
The Governor called for the intervention and support of the Federal Government on the shore protection project, stating that the Federal Government needed to reciprocate Bayelsa State’s immense contribution to the economic wellbeing of the country.
“l did not come here for political campaign, but rather to see the plight of the Odioama people and have first hand knowledge of what is happening to the community.
“I cannot sit in my office to hear that houses are giving way. I have been taken round and seen houses that are giving way to the ocean surge.
“We call on the Federal Government that while we use our meagre resources to start something, we want them to also collaborate with us in stopping the sea encroachment in Odioama and other communities.
“Bayelsa State has given so much to Nigeria and so, let the Federal Government also reciprocate.
“While we use our meagre resources to construct shoreline protection, I like to call on the Federal Government to be part of the story in checking the perennial environmental problems of erosion and flooding ravaging our communities.
“Whatever we are doing here will be like a drop in the ocean. But together with the Federal Government, there is so much we can achieved”, Diri said.
The River State Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor has called on media practitioners in Rivers State to deploy their various communication platforms toward promoting government programmes and policies aimed at achieving sustainable development in the education sector. Dr. Nwagor made the appeal when members of the Etche Ethnic Practicing Journalists (EEPJ) paid him a courtesy visit in Office in Port Harcourt. The Commissioner emphasized the strategic role of the media in shaping public perception, promoting government initiatives, and supporting policies capable of improving the quality of education and human capital development in the state. According to him, constructive media engagement remains essential in creating public awareness on educational reforms, students’ welfare, infrastructural improvements, and other interventions being implemented by the state government. Speaking on the recent appro
