NDDC Tackles Flooding In Bayelsa, Rivers With Kolo Creek Channelisation, Emergency Shelters

Ahoada West, Rivers State & Ogbia, Bayelsa State – November 5, 2024 – The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has begun channelising the Kolo Creek, a critical waterway that runs through 17 communities in Rivers and Bayelsa States, in a significant move to mitigate the impact of perennial flooding in the Niger Delta.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Okarki, Ahoada West Local Government Area, Rivers State, to officially launch the project, which will cost a significant sum.

NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, emphasised the project’s importance in reducing flooding, mitigating its impact on the Ahoada axis of the East-West Road, and boosting commercial activities in the surrounding areas.

He highlighted the project’s potential to improve aquatic life and reduce the threat of water-borne diseases affecting rural communities.

“We have started the project, and we will complete it on schedule,” Ogbuku assured, acknowledging the substantial investment required.

The project is a direct response to appeals from community leaders, who expressed concerns about the severe consequences of the creek’s blockage.

The NDDC, in collaboration with local authorities, has identified and addressed the blockages that have been causing flooding and hindering the flow of water.

The channelisation effort was hailed as a significant achievement of the current NDDC management, demonstrating the effectiveness of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Sir Victor Antai, NDDC Executive Director of Projects, described the project as a prime example of the Commission’s commitment to delivering life-changing projects.

In appreciation of the NDDC’s initiative, the Traditional Ruler of Okarki, King Elijah Harry Aduan, bestowed upon Dr. Ogbuku the chieftaincy title of “Itonji Oka-Akie I (light of the people) of Okarki Kingdom.”

King Aduan expressed his community’s gratitude for the NDDC’s intervention and the positive impact it will have on their economic activities.

In a related development, the NDDC inspected one of the emergency shelters currently under construction in the Otuokpoti community, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

These shelters, part of a proactive response to the region’s recurrent flooding, are designed to provide comprehensive support to displaced communities.

Dr Ogbuku elaborated on the shelter’s features, explaining that they will include essential amenities such as a school, hospital, cafeteria, police post, and recreation centre.

These facilities are intended to provide a temporary refuge for communities affected by flood emergencies.

He also mentioned the construction of similar shelters in other flood-prone areas of the Niger Delta, with a total of six currently under construction in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states.

With the commencement of the Kolo Creek channelisation project and the construction of emergency shelters, the NDDC has demonstrated its commitment to addressing the critical issue of flooding and providing necessary support to communities affected by this recurring challenge.

These projects exemplify the Commission’s dedication to improving the lives of Niger Delta residents and promoting sustainable development in the region.