By Nelson Utip
Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State, was at The United Nations Convention for Conserving River Deltas (UN-CCRD) where he took his campaign against the threats of ocean surge, coastal erosion, environmental pollution and their related impacts to the global audience, at the ongoing Climate Change Summit in Dubai he called on the international community to come to the aid of Bayelsa coastal communities on the effects of oceanification and climate change.
Mr. Daniel Alabrah, his Chief Press Secretary quoted him as lamenting the lost of land in about 20 coastal communities to ocean surge and rising sea waters.
The Governor mentioned some of the communities as Agge, Akassa, Aghoro, Brass and Ekeni, Ezetu, Foropa, Koluama 1 & 2, Odioama and Okpoama among others.
According to the governor, “scientific reports from our experts indicate that between 1991 and 2018, the shorelines of Bayelsa, its neighbours, Rivers State and Akwa Ibom State, witnessed considerable retreat and erosion, with respective measurements of 81,532 metres, 17,519 metres and 8,590 metres. The rates of shoreline migration and erosion were recorded at 11.1 metres per year, 7.2 metres per year and 5.5 metres per year respectively
“In the context of erosion along the Nigerian coast, Bayelsa alone accounted for 66.6% of the erosion and shoreline retreat, while Rivers and Akwa Ibom contributed 14.43% and 10.63% respectively.”
Governor Diri lamented that climate change continues to “wreak unimaginable havoc” on the Niger Delta of Nigeria and on its environment, ecosystem, and human resources.
“Unlike other regions of planet Earth, our plight is confounded from both ends, creating a case of “double jeopardy.” We need little activism to restate that the world’s deltas and wetlands are increasingly facing extinction,” he said.
He called on leaders to look for effective short and long-term solutions such as “sustenance, shelter, alternative educational facilities for children, and the protection of vulnerable members of society, particularly the girl child.
“These endeavours will significantly contribute to addressing food insecurity, hunger, migration, and the associated settlements and conflicts.
“This is why we join in the “Deltas Unite” (campaign) to cry to the rest of the world to work with us to address this situation.”
He pledged the unrelenting support of The Government of Bayelsa State to all activities and programmes of Deltas Unite.
“In this vein, I would like to announce the readiness of our government to host the Inaugural International Summit of the Deltas in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria in 2024. This will enable our various experts, who by the way have done incredible work so far, to further interface and articulate our common positions on the pertinent issues.“
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