Odi community leaders and the Bayelsa state government are calling on the federal government, through the Ecological Fund Office, to come to the community’s aid after heavy rains, swept away houses and property worth millions of naira into the nearby River Nun.
It destroyed electricity cables, and threw the town into darkness, Daily Trust reports. The Odi Council of Chiefs called on FG to approve the Odi shoreline protection project as the river has again overflowed its banks, destroyed four houses and a large portion of the major road in the community.
Chairman of Odi Community Development Committee (CDC), Goddy Niweigha, said:
“we are pleading with President Muhammadu Buhari to come to our aid and ensure that the approval process is fast tracked. Time is of essence, as you can see, Odi community is on the verge of being washed away by the River Nun.”
Governor Seriake Dickson, who visited the area, called on the federal government to intervene.
He said: 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.
