Delta Lawmaker Raises The Alarm Over Ocean Surge Threat

The member representing Warri North in the Delta State House of Assembly (DSHA), Hon Fred Martins, has raised the alarm over the negative impacts of the recent ocean surge in parts of his constituency.

The affected communities are Ogheye-Eghoroke, Ogheye-Dimigun and several others along the Benin River in the Warri North local government area of the state.

Martins, the deputy chief whip of the House, made the call when he led officials of the state government to inspect the level of damage caused to the inhabitants of the communities by heavy flooding as a result of the ocean surge.

The lawmaker, saddened by the development, sympathised with the people over the disturbing incident and spoke on the need for urgent measures to address the problem.

As palliative care for the affected residents, Martins called on the federal government and its agencies to provide relief materials for the displaced families.

He also called for commencement of construction of shore line protection to forestall future occurrence, stressing that there was the need for permanent solution to the problem.

The lawmaker thanked the Delta State government for its quick response to ascertain the level of damages caused by the sea surge and how best to remedy the situation.

Hon Martins, who is the chairman of House Committee on Lands, Survey and Urban Development, also appealed to multinationals and other oil companies operating in the areas not to turn their backs on the affected communities as they need help to cushion the impact of damages by the ocean surge.

The state commissioner, Bureau For Special Duties, Etacherure Terry, who commiserated with the people, noted that pains of any Deltan troubles and worries the government of Delta State, hence the prompt visit to ascertain the level of damages.

The commissioner represented by the permanent secretary, Bureau for Special Duties, Prince Greg Ejohwomu, stated that the visit was at the instance of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, promising that steps would be taken to ameliorate the suffering caused by the ocean surge.

The commissioner called on oil companies and other stakeholders to collaborate with the government to seek a solution to the problem of high tides and overflow from the ocean.

The ocean surge, which is gradually sinking the communities, started on Thursday, September 19, 2024, resulting in indigenes fleeing their ancestral homeland.