Erosion is Washing us Away, Kenan Community Cries Out

…Sends SOS to Diri

—- Blames issue on oil exploration activities of Sterling Global

By Kelvin Ohoror

Indigenes of Kenan, an agrarian
Isoko community in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have appealed to Governor Duoye Diri to rescue them from the problem of erosion which they said is currently washing the community away.

They said 16 houses, the community market which is the source of the community women livelihood and businesses, boreholes and several lives had been lost during the night as to erosion.

Speaking with newsmen on the development, Chairman of the Community Development Chief Okemena Adigheji said the people had been experiencing serious erosion for the past three years.

He said: “Personally I have written to Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port-harcourt, the community also discussed with the Deputy Governor of the State Sen. Lawrence Erwhrujakpo about how the erosion is washing away the community, he confirmed to us that, to stop the erosion is an elephant project.

“We discussed the issue of the erosion with the member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency Hon. Fred Agbegi; he has come to community to see how the erosion has affected the community during the commissioning of the Community Primary Healthcare Centre.

“It is not because Kenan community is not an Ijaw speaking community in the State that the State government has not given us the needed attention. We are minority, may be that is why they have not paid attention to our community.

“If you move round the riverine area within the coastal line the erosion is affecting other communities but our own is more serious”.

He accused an Indian company Sterling Global Oil Company who he said, dredged the river sometime ago of causing the problem of erosion that the community is facing.

Saying that the current of the river used to flow down to the Forcados river, he noted that after the dredging the current of the river changed “and they move their crude oil in badges through Kenan Community axis”.

“We have been appealing to the Bayelsa State Government to come to do the piling of the river for us, especially during the tenure of Sen. Sariake Dickson the former Governor of Bayelsa State who is now the chairman Senate Committee on Ecological Control to come to our aide.

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He said they had also made several appeals to those in authority on the issue and many others concerning the erosion “but to no avail, nobody is giving the community listening ear.

“We are pleading and appealing to them come and assist us, if not, we will all be wash away by the devastating erosion if they cannot intervene now”.

He admonished the people of Kenan community to be strong, steadfast and not to be discouraged, expressing optimism that God Almighty will listen to their cries.

“The families who lost their loved ones and houses, I sympathize with them, God Almighty will make a way, I encourage them to be strong.

He also appealed to the sons and daughters of the community who are connected to the State and Federal Government not to relent in their effort to ensure the piling of the river.

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