Anyama-Ogbia Community Decry Devastating Effects of Coastal Erosion.

By Alambo Datonye

TRACKING____The People of Anyama-Ogbia in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State want the completion of the shoreline protection project in the area.

This according to them will save the community from being wiped off by the menacing perennial flooding and coastal erosion.

Locals frowned at the abandoned project in the community.

Anyama Ogbia, is an ancient community with a colonial presence as far back as 1910 and 1912 following the building of the Saint James Anglican Church and Primary School.

In 1934, a post office and customary court were established by the British Colonial Government to oil and compliment its administrative machinery at the provincial level to share information and dispense justice.

Also, a state of the art palm oil milling factory was built in 1955 to process raw materials from the hinterland and then shipped to the metropole through the sea from the Brass Terminal.

Over the years however Anyama Ogbia community has been ravaged by the twin environmental challenges of erosion and flooding

The police post which was established over four decades ago has been cut-off by the ferocious perennial erosion that has continued to bedevil the community.

The Paramount Ruler of the community, Chief Sopana Amakiri Agala said the menace has caused the people untold suffering.

According the Secretary of the Anyama-Ogbia Community in Yenagoa , Comrade Potency Owei, aside lives and property lost over the years, the only secondary school in the community ( G.S.S Anyama Ogbia) that was established in 1977 and the rest of the community may go into extinction if nothing was done to tackle the challenge.

A Community Leader, Pastor Aduba Okilo urges Government to revisit the shoreline protection project contract awarded to address the problem.

The people of Anyama-Ogbia called on government and relevant authorities to act fast to address the ravaging erosion and flooding menace which is threatening their existence.