Bayelsa Communities Sends SOS to FG, Gov Diri Over Impending Extinction

Amatu I and II communities in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have sent a Save Our Souls (SOS) message to both the Federal Government and the Bayelsa State Government to come to their aide over an impending extinction of the heritage.

Residents of the communities are lamenting over the gradual loss of their lands as a result of the sea waves consistently smashing on it.

During an assessment tour by Safe and Better Nigeria, a non-governmental organization led by Comrade Charles Ikpaka Solomon, the communities called on the federal and Bayelsa State governments to urgently find solutions to their plight.

Speaking to Daily Report Nigeria, Solomon urged the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to listen to the cries of the people and come to their aide.

The organization also tasked the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to implement remedial measures such as provision of relief materials and installation of foreshore walls to guard against the tides.

“Some persons have lost their houses, and many more are on the bring of losing their homes. They have nowhere to lay their heads as a result of the erosion, Solomon said.

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“We call on the Federal Ministry of Environment, Bayelsa Ministry of Environment, NDDC, Ministry of Humanitarian Resources to take immediate drastic action to mitigate the situation.

“Amatu is an oil bearing community playing host to the Shell Petroleum Development Company, trying times like this demand for the company to attend to the needs of the people whose land you drill oil from. Except the SPDC has no sense of social responsibility, the situation ought not deteroriate to the level it is right now.

“The situation is deplorable, and we call on all government parastatals concerned with this situation on the ground to respond swiftly and rescue these people and their lands,” Solomon added.

According to SBN, the access creek to Amatu I community is gradually getting blocked by sand, while Amatu II is in dire need of dredging, piling, and refilling.

The calls for swift intervention were amplified by the Grand Pere of Iduwini Kingdom, HRM. Dr Joel Ekeni Ibane, who lamented that the situation has lingered for long.

The monarch decried how several attempts have been made in the past to remedy the erosion with no avail. He subsequently blamed the cause of the erosion on oil exploration activities by the SPDC.