The Senate has urged the Ministry of the Environment, and other stakeholders to urgently evaluate the extent of damage and execute shoreline reclamation and protection projects in some parts of Bayelsa affected by coastal erosion.
The affected communities include Anyama, Odioama, Twon-Brass and Sangana communities in Bayelsa East Senatorial District.
The resolution was sequel to a motion by Degi-Eremienyo Biobarakuma during yesterday’s plenary.
The motion was tagged: “Urgent need to reclaim and protect Shorelines at Anyama, Twon-Brass, Odioama and Sangana communities devastated by coastal erosion in Bayelsa East Senatorial District.”
Moving the motion, Biobarakuma said coastal erosion has been a menace, causing devastation, threatening the very existence of coastal communities in the state.
He said there was a difference between coastal erosion and general erosion like gully, saying: “Coastal erosion is when the Atlantic Ocean eats deep into the communities.”
The communities had experienced coastal erosion to the extent of their shorelines receding from 100 to 300 metres into the communities over the years.
The lawmaker said coastal erosion has not been adequately addressed by successive administrations at the Federal and State levels since independence.
“Several communities in the senatorial district had been washed away due to neglect and lack of attention to deal with the devastation of coastal erosion
“The communities had experienced coastal erosion to the extent of their shorelines receding from 100 to 300 metres into the communities over the years.”
The lawmaker further said the menace has created serious ecological disaster and untold social and economic hardship to the people of the communities.
He said their homes, farmlands, economic trees, vital government infrastructure such as roads were being washed away.
“In some cases, even crude oil and gas facilities, especially pipelines along communities’ shorelines are not spared from coastal erosion, thereby constituting great danger to the host communities.”
The prayer of the motion was approved by the Senate President Ahmad Lawan after a voice vote. (NAN)
