On Thursday, the Home of Representatives known as for the pressing resettlement of lots of of Nigerians who have been displaced by the ravaging results of gully erosion in Bayelsa State.
The decision was handed following the adoption of a movement sponsored by Hon. Oboku Abonsizibe Oforji, who expressed grave concern over the impacts of gully erosion in Yenagoa, Obogoro, Famgbe, Ikolo, and different communities inside and across the Ikoli River of Bayelsa State.
In his lead debate, Hon. Oforji solicited the Home’s intervention to avoid wasting the affected communities from the chance of extinction by implementing reclamation and shore safety measures for the communities inside and bordering the Ikoli River.
Whereas noting that Part 14(2b) of the 1999 Structure (as amended) supplies that the safety, security, and welfare of the individuals of Nigeria shall be the first objective of presidency, he averred that the ravaging impact of coastal erosion in Yenagoa, Obogoro, Famgbe, Ikolo, and different communities inside and bordering the Ikoli River resulted in devastating penalties for the indigenes and residents of the areas.
“The Home noticed that landslides from the coastal erosion originating from the Ikoli River have submerged buildings, church buildings, farmlands, worship websites, colleges, soccer fields, and a lodge housing Nationwide Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.
“The Home is worried that the continuing catastrophe has been unaddressed for years, inflicting worry among the many indigenous and group residents.
“The Home is nervous that the erosion has brought about important hardship for indigenous communities, affecting their financial livelihoods and inflicting kids to journey lengthy distances for primary training,” he famous.
Whereas lamenting that quite a few residents have been displaced by the catastrophe, Hon. Oforji lamented that on the peak of the wet season, the implications of heavy flooding ignite a looming hazard until immediate motion is taken to mitigate the catastrophe.
Relaying one of many ugly occasions which occurred within the affected communities, Hon. Oforji confirmed that lives have been misplaced, together with the demise of a girl tragically swept away by a landslide in her sleep, whose physique stays unaccounted for to today.
To this finish, the Home urged the Nationwide Emergency Administration Company (NEMA) to make sure the resettlement of displaced residents in affected areas and supply aid supplies.
In the identical vein, the Home mandated the Committee on Setting to conduct a tour of the affected communities to evaluate the damages and report again inside 4 weeks for additional legislative motion.