Yesterday, the Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, Eugene Jaja, accompanied by the Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V, members of the Opobo Ala-Apu (Chiefs) Council, and the Seni-Apu (Elders) Council, went round some communities in the area, most especially, Queens Town, to inspect the level of coastal erosion and flooding.

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Opobo/Nkoro comprises of not less than 20 communities located along the fringes of the Atlantic Ocean. Opobo itself lies in the Imo Estuary where the Atlantic meets the swelling waters from the estuary. This not only causes flooding, but also washes off the shores of the islands located in the area.

Opobo Town, until 1982, was at the mercy of this natural confluence until the Alhaji Shehu Shagari administration awarded the shore protection project. That project was championed by Professor Dagogo Fubara and others, who carried out similar projects in other coastal communities of the delta.

Unfortunately, many communities in the area could not enjoy the same attention given to Opobo. The Queens Town project was half done due to funding. Iloma, Minima, Epelema, Oloma, Kalasunju including Nkoro Town are now left at the mercy of the ocean.

Like the Alapu Council spokesman, Alabo Godwin Bupo commented, these communities may soon go extinct if nothing is done.

The most painful part of this situation is that 35 years after the Opobo shore was protected, other communities including Queens Town and Minima are yet to enjoy similar attention.

It was learnt some years ago that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) had awarded that of Minima but from scope of work on site, the project was abandoned. That of Queens Town leaves a sore on the conscience of those who it was learnt had failed to execute the project.

We believe this is no time for blaming anyone but for concerted action.

It is time for all levels of government to engage in concerted action towards finding a lasting solution to this menace. Those at helm of authority should liaise with the appropriate authorities to commence work immediately.

This article was originally published as an editorial by Opubo Watch Newspaper on August 29, 2019