The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, will soon start work on the reclamation and shore protection of eroded parts of Odi in Kolokuma-OpokumaLocal Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Announcing this at the palace of the traditional ruler of Odi Kingdom, King
Shine Apre, the NDDC Acting Managing Director, Prof Nelson Brambaifa,
stated that the Commission would not relent in its drive to provide basic
infrastructure in communities across the Niger Delta region.
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer said that no effort would be spared in
protecting coastal communities in the region. He declared: “In the next
couple of weeks we will start work on the shore protection. I am aware of
the erosion problem in Odi and we will certainly address it. We will also
take care of the internal roads in the town.”Responding, King Apre thanked the NDDC Acting Managing Director for showing concern for the plight of the people of his kingdom. He called on the NDDC to support Odi in promoting the course of the Ijaw nation.
He said that the Odi Kingdom was holding its annual Ogori Ba Uge
International Festival which, among other things, was one of the avenues
for taking the story of Odi beyond the shores of Nigeria. “We want to show
the world our culture. We expect the NDDC boss to help us to share the Ijaw
story,” he said.
Speaking at the site of the landslide which destroyed many houses in April,
a former Vice President of the Odi Youth Council, Mr Teibowei Brown, said
he was relieved to learn that the NDDC was intervening to save Odi from the ravages of erosion and landslide.
He said that the erosion was one of the many environmental challenges
confronting the communities especially those along the river banks, noting
that the last incident at Odi, destroyed many houses located along the bank
of the River Nun which passes through the community.
Charles Obi Odili
Director, Corporate Affairs.