The Bayelsa State Government has appealed to the Federal Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and development partners to urgently support efforts to address severe flooding and coastal erosion across the state.
Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo made the appeal on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Yenagoa with the Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control, local government chairmen, and other key officials.
Ewhrudjakpo noted that Bayelsa, which has the longest coastline in Nigeria, faces intense environmental challenges, particularly in coastal communities, and lacks the financial capacity to undertake large-scale shoreline protection projects on its own.
“Bayelsa is widely affected by flooding every year. We’ve become so accustomed to it that we no longer raise alarms like other states,” he said.
“Several of our communities along the Atlantic Ocean are being eroded yearly. Our appeal is for urgent intervention from the federal government and the NDDC.”
While acknowledging the NDDC’s contributions to development projects across the state, Ewhrudjakpo called for enhanced collaboration to implement long-term flood and erosion control measures.
“We understand there are competing priorities nationwide, but our situation is unique. The state urgently needs support to mitigate the damage,” he added.
He emphasized the need for balanced investment, saying, “While we recognise the importance of building dams in other parts of the country, we urge the federal government to equally focus on flooding and erosion control in Bayelsa.”
To strengthen local preparedness, the Deputy Governor directed the Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control to accelerate the clearing of drainage canals and the dredging of designated flood-prone sites.
He said these actions are part of proactive steps to set up temporary camps for displaced persons ahead of the 2025 flood season.
He also ordered assessment visits to high-risk communities, including Akenfa-Epie and Tombia, which have been identified as flood flashpoints.
In addition, Ewhrudjakpo mandated the immediate commencement of sand-filling operations at designated flood relief camps in Biseni (Yenagoa LGA) and Obirigbene (Ekeremor LGA).
He also tasked the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure with demolishing and rebuilding a structurally defective drainage culvert at Arietalin in Yenagoa to curb recurrent flooding in the area.
The Deputy Governor addressed recent reports of temporary flooding around the Igbogene axis, linked to sand-filling activities near the new stadium.
He directed the commissioners for works, infrastructure, and sports, alongside flood control officials, to visit the site and submit recommendations for prompt intervention.
The meeting also featured technical briefings from Mr. Wilson Omuso, Director-General of the Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control, and from local government chairmen representing Yenagoa, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Sagbama, Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, and Ekeremor.
