Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
The people of Polobubo (Tsekelewu) an oil producing community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State have been thrown into agony following heavy flooding after weeks of intense rainfall in the coastal community, and are crying for help from both federal and state governments.
The affected people have therefore called on the Delta State and federal governments as well as good-spirited individuals to urgently come to their aid as their land has been practically swallowed up by flood and life practically brought to a standstill with excessive rainfall in the area in the last couple of weeks.
The community also appealed for support from several international oil companies operating in the community, to ameliorate the harsh effects of the flooding, which has brought both social and economic in the area to a halt.
The unprecedented flood burden was more than the people of the community could shoulder alone, they lamented.
Taking journalists on tour of the flooded community during the week, the leadership and elders of Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community noted that the overwhelming level of the ecological disaster has made “an urgent appeal to the state and federal governments inevitable.”
THISDAY observed that the situation was truly pathetic and devastating with both elementary and secondary schools in the area having been forced to go on indefinite break due to the ocean of flood in the community.
Some residents, including women and children and the elderly, who were apparently clinging to hope of some intervention, were seen around the few buildings yet to be completely submerged by the flood, looking forlorn and anxiety-stricken.
A statement by Dr. Bright Abulu, President General of Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Community and Sir Chris Ukagha, the Public Relations Officer, underscored the seriousness of the situation, and helplessness of the generally agrarian and fishing population.
The statement calling for urgent assistance read in part: “It is the worst in the history of our community! We have lost practically everything to this flood. Unquantifiable property had been lost and people displaced from their houses and places of livelihood.
“The entire community is submerged and we can see only some rooftops. We had severe flooding in 2012 but the experience was not as harrowing as this. The flood has completely taken over and all we can see and feel now is untold hardship and hunger staring us in the face. Everyone is affected by this disaster. You, our friends from the media, can see for yourself; words are inadequate to describe the situation in our community today.
“This community is very strategic to the economic interest of Nigeria and Delta State as it is host to major International Oil Producing Companies (IOCs), which have operations here. This is where they do their business. We need their help at this time also.
“We are urging them to share in our plight and moments of extreme pain, by ensuring that they come together with the government, and act fast in coming to our rescue.
“The oil companies operating in the community include Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), Nigerian Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), Conoil Producing Limited and Sahara Energy Services Limited,” Abulu said, adding that though Delta government officials visited earlier the situation was lighter at that time.
“Government officials from the Delta State Ministry of Environment and the local government came last week but the flood had not risen to this frightening scale, the present devastation of epic proportions. We are obviously in an emergency situation that the government of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the federal government, and their relevant agencies must intervene, to urgently come in to ameliorate the suffering of the people.
“We are in a very difficult and overwhelming situation as even our children can no longer go to school. The two government secondary schools and the two primaries have been forced to go on break. People can no longer do their businesses meaningfully as everything is now at standstill. Yes, life in our community is practically at a standstill.
“Our means of livelihood have been halted by this ecological disaster. We now look up to God, the government and good spirited individuals to help our people out of this situation.”
The Nigerian meteorological authorities have for several months persistently warned of devastation from heavy flooding especially this year; and, Delta State is among the states along the banks of River Niger and River Benue said to be susceptible to the seasonal flooding due to excessive rainfall.
