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Leadership of Otuoke community in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have expressed fears that the rising level of waters in and around the community occasioned by the recent alleged opening of the Lagdo dam in the Cameroons may again have adverse impact on the community.
Speaking with newsmen on tour of flood flashpoints in the area, the duo of the community’s Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC), Mr John Godfrey and Secretary, Mr Ifiola Moses relived the impact of the 2012 and 2022 monster floods in the community.
They expressed fears that if nothing was done in the community by the government to cushion the effects of the predicted 2024 floods, Otuoke may be headed for yet another horrible experiences.
The leaders called on government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to build an internally displaced persons(IDP) camp in the community, saying it would not only assuage the sufferings of the community during floods, but also provide alternate accommodation to other communities within the catchment area during emergency.
The community said: “The 2012 and 2022 monster floods wreck so much havoc in this community and others around here.
“Otuoke community was amongst the worst hit in the entire state by the two past floods. And so we’re calling on Governments at all levels and the NDDC to build an IDP camp here to provide us and neighbouring communities alternative shelter in the event that there are floods again as predicted.
“Already, every day the water level is increasing here and in other neighbouring communities. We don’t want to have that horrible experiences of the past monster floods again.
“The state Government through the relevant agencies and parastatals should extend the opening and desilting works on creeks and water channels to this community and its environs.
“Government should also desilt the Elebele-Otuoke-Otuaba-Ogbia town creek and the Elabio channel like they’ve done in Yenagoa and adjoining areas”.
