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Communities In Bayelsa Threatened By Landslide

Many houses in Odi town in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State as well as other parts of the State have been washed away by landslide due to the collapse of a mass of earth or rock from a mountain.

Information reaching us showed that recent heavy rains swept away houses and property worth millions of naira into the nearby river, destroyed electricity cables, and threw the town into darkness.

The State Governor, Seriake Dickson has already visited the scene describing the incident as an ecological disaster.

Governor Dickson confirmed that aside Odi, other communities in the state like Akassa, Egweama, Koluama, Twon-Brass, Agbere and Toru-Orua were under threat from similar challenges.

He called on the Federal Government to intervene in the grave ecological threat facing the town through the Ecological Fund under its control even as he said that the state Government would commence immediate steps to respond to the development within the limits of available resources.

He directed the Ministries of Environment, and Works and Infrastructure to jointly undertake a technical assessment of the area, the impact of the landslide and recommend lasting solutions.

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“We have seen the devastation caused by the landslide and this is not something new to most of our communities.

“We have the Ecological Fund managed by the Federal Government and these are the purposes for which it was set up. It was for people who actually need that type of intervention.

“The situation in Odi is pathetic, our prayers are with the people of this community and its leadership. I have seen the houses destroyed and swept into the river but no life was lost”

“We will not wait for the Federal Government or its intervention agencies. It would be nice if they come to our aid like they ought to and i will make that request but seeing our people in this state, despite the funding constraint, we will still start something immediately.”

The governor expressed joy that no one died due to the disaster and assured the people of government’s commitment to tackle the environmental challenges facing them.

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