Ocean Washing Off Buildings In Bayelsa – Community Leader

At least 50 buildings have been completely washed away by the Atlantic Ocean in Odioma community in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State in the last four years.

The most recent incident happened on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, when a one storey building belonging to one Mr Gladstone Amabebe collapsed around 9pm, about one hour after eight family members left the entire building.

It was observed that from 5pm of the same day, the entire shoreline was totally covered with water and all the houses in front of seashore as well as coconut trees which were located about 100 metres to the Atlantic Ocean were washed away by the surge. This unusual surge in water levels has been going on since 2020.

The chairman of Odioma Council of Chiefs, Chief Marlin Omieh-Munata who spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday during a visit to the community, said that about 25 residential buildings have been eroded by the ocean, adding that if there is no assistance from the state and federal governments, Odioma community will be inundated very soon.

“We have been crying to the government to come to our aid. We have been to NDDC; we have been to the federal government and even the ecological area of the country. We have been crying to the government but there is no assistance yet and you see how the houses are falling down.

“So, we want the government to come to our aid. A storey building just fell down last night (Wednesday) and it is continuing. It started about three years ago. Before this building that collapsed, there was about 20 metres land space before this house.

“We have a place for beach party during Christmas period where you have a very big area here, well developed with building and palm trees for the beach party. All have been eroded by the ocean,” he lamented.

Younger brother to the owner of the building, Pastor Ayebanengiyefa Ikierigha who left the house about hour before it collapsed said that the incident was a natural disaster but his happiness was that it did not claim lives.