As this year’s flood waters recede, displaced residents of impacted communities and towns in Bayelsa State are returning to their homes and picking the pieces of their lives.
The victims are counting their losses following the devastation inflicted on property, businesses and means of livelihood.
Community leaders and concerned citizens are calling on the government to find a lasting solution to the perennial flooding challenges in the country.
When the team of the Environmental Defenders Network including journalists returned for an assessment visit of the flood situation in the three Senatorial Districts of Bayelsa State, there were clear indications that the waters were receding fast.
Areas visited were parts of Yenagoa along the Epie Creek, Biseni, and Okordia-Zarama in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Adagbabiri in Sagbama LGA, Sampou and Kaiama in Kolokuma-Opokuma LGA, Otuasega, Imiringi, Emeyal and Elebele in Ogbia LGA.
It was obvious that the water levels have reduced significantly along the Taylor Creek, Nun River, River Forcados, Epie Creek, while that of the Kolo Creek was gradually going down.
In Biseni which was worst hit displaced persons at communities such as Egbebiri and Ayakuro-Ama who took refuge on the bridge in the area have all returned to their homes submerged by the flood waters with signs of destruction on houses, the Baptist Primary School, the secondary school and the primary health center very much visible.
A Community leader, Mr. Solomon Ogiama said they went through harrowing experience during the floods, calling for the dredging of the Rivers Niger, Orashi and de-silting of the Taylor Creek to tackle the menace.
The Paramount ruler of Ikarama Community in Okordia clan, Chief Wariebi Jonah Bereboseiya said though the flood was not severe as that of 2022, some were however affected with several farmlands destroyed, urging government to take measures against the opening of dams that result in flooding almost each year.
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At Adagbabiri in Sagbama LGA, another worst hit area, the paramount ruler of Adagbabiri Federated Communities, Alaowei Brodrick Okee noted that the people have continued to suffer flood disasters since 2012 up to 2022, lamenting that after each catastrophe, the community is forgotten by government, canvassing the dredging of the upper River Niger as solution to the challenge.
Deputy Executive Director of the Environmental Defenders Network, EDEN, Chief Alagoa Morris advocates long term solutions like the construction of more dams to absorb the excess water while there should be well coordinated efforts by the government to provide relief materials to people affected by flood and other natural disasters.
Chief Morris who is also the Technical Assistant to the Governor on the Environment wants affected communities and schools to be fumigated with medical care provided for victims.
Meanwhile, schools in Bayelsa State which were shut since October 4 for flood break will be resuming next Monday.
