Environment
Odual Communities And Water Hyacinth
Communities in the
Odual and Emago Kubo axis of Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State are on the brink of extinction following the invasion of the area by water hyacinth.
The Tide learnt that, the entire stretch of the Odual water ways running from Abua to Okolomade has been covered by the dreaded water weeds.
Sources within the area also informed The Tide that, the inhabitants of the area who are mostly farmers and fishermen can no longer access their farms and fishing sites.
According to the source, apart from making communication difficult, the situation has increased the presence of reptiles in the areaw, thereby making it difficult for people to go out for fishing or farming.
It will be recalled that water hyacinth was first reported in the old Rivers State in 1995.
However, since water hyacinth thrives in fresh water, the creation of Bayelsa State out of the present Rivers State has reduced the influence of water hyacinth in the state.
Presently, the weeds are confined to the Odual and Emago Kubo axis of the state since it is the only zone in Rivers State that lies within the fresh water zone.
The Tide also learnt that the river, which acts as a source of drinking water for inhabitants of the areas, is also heavily polluted with dangerous organisms from the weeds.
Moreover, the increased presence of reptiles on the river, The Tide learnt, is also scaring the people from fetching water from the river for domestic use.
Some inhabitants of the communities told The Tide in an interview that life is becoming difficult for them as both their sources of drinking water and livelihood have been threatened.
They noted that since last year when the incident occurred in the area, all efforts to get the attention of both the government and the multinational oil companies operating in the area have proved abortive.
They particularly said that several complaints have been lodged with the Abua/Odual Local Government Council to draw its attention to the plight of the people, but the council is yet to take any action.
Speaking to The Tide at Emelogo, the traditional headquarters of Odual Kingdom, Chief Wariboiko Victor, a community leader, told The Tide that, before now a journey from Okolomade to Emelogo by boat usually took five minutes, but now, it takes two hours.
Chief Victor said that apart from making communication difficult the source of livelihood of the people is also under threat.
According to him, snakes, and other reptiles now parade the river scaring people from getting nearer to fetch drinking water, while even farmers are afraid to go to the farms.
“It has blocked the river making communication difficult, with it come all sort of reptiles” he said.
The community leader lamented that, if no urgent attention is paid to the problems, Odual communities will soon become extinct.
“As I’m talking to you now, no fishing is going on here. Even farmers are afraid to go to farm because of the large presence of reptiles”, he said.
He said that the people are now taking their destinies in their hands through communal efforts which, according to him, involves using youths of the various communities to clear the area of the weeds.
Also speaking to The Tide in the area, the President, Women’s Wing of Odual Peoples Assembly, Mrs Jessey Edeh, described the situation as unacceptable and stressed the need for the authorities to come to the aide of the communities.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, says it is still sourcing for funds to tackle the problem of water hyacinth in the Odual river of Abua/Odual Local Government Area.
The Director, Flood and Erosion Control, Rivers State Ministry of Environment, Sir Lawrence Igwe, said this in an exclusive interview with The Tide in his office while reacting to the problem.
He said that since last year when the ministry got the report, efforts to secure the necessary funding to tackle it has proved abortive.
Sir Igwe said that both the state government and the various corporate organisations operating in the state had been written to on the issue, but none was willing to help.
The Director also criticised the move by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to undertake the clearing alone, describing it as duplication of functions.
He described water hyacinth as dangerous weeds to the environment, adding that apart from navigation difficulties, reptiles and other rodents will always have a field day in water hyacinth-prone environment.
An official of Abua/Odual Local Government Council told The Tide at Abua Central that the council was aware of the problem and was taking steps to solve it.
The official, who spoke under condition of anonymity, however, gave no detail of steps taken so far by the council to clear the area of the weeds.
Similarly, at the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt, The Tide learnt of contracts being awarded to youth groups to clear rivers of water hyacinth in parts of Niger Delta, but there is no independent confirmation of this claim.
The Tide will, however, continue in its effort to verify the authenticity of this claim.
Heap of refused blocking a drainage
Some residents of Port Harcourt and its environs have reacted to the impending flooding in parts of the country, including Rivers state.
It would be recalled that the federal government last week predicted flooding in some states in the country, including Rivers State.
A cross session of residents who spoke to The Tide on the issue said time has come for residents to be careful about the way they managed their waste, especially at this time of the year.
According to them, people must avoid blocking water channels as well as indiscriminate dumping of waste into water channels.
Speaking with The Tide, an Environmentalist, Elder Blessing Jackson Tiko, called for caution by residents of Port Harcourt and its environs
Tiko who was a former deputy operational officer Phalga Environmental Sanitation Taskforce, said people must be conscious of the way and manner that they manage their waste.
“We know that we have the rain and if you watch it is coming especially this month of July,it would rain and rain and rain
“We have to be very conscious of how we manage our environmental system, the way we throw our waste and how we evacuate it so that every where will be open for water to move freely
“Water doesn’t want blockage, water wants free flow, ’he said
Tiko urged state governments to liaise with the federal government and development agencies to dredge and open up river channels to enable Water move freely.
He particularly called on the Niger Delta Basine Development Authority and the Niger Delta Development Commission to liaise with state governments in the quest to end flooding in the states.
Also speaking, Mrs. Alice. A. Alabo a trader at Mile 3 Port Harcourt, urged the state government to do something on the constant flooding at the Abuja bypass in Mile 3 Diobu, Port Harcourt,
She said the bypass is always flooded at every little rainfalls stressing that something must be done about it.
Alabo also told The Tide Correspondents that the Abuja bypass has no receptacles and called on the management of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency to provide receptacles for the people, to ensure proper waste disposal in the area.
“The government should provide us with receptacles for us to properly place our waste which is causing the flooding in the area.
A shop owner Dickey, Livia Marko lemanted the incessant flooding along the Abuja bypass, adding that the situation is affecting their businesses.
“We have been begging the Rivers State Government and the local government to come to our aid.
“The Ego Line Progressive Union contributes N10,000 every year to make sure that we evacuate the drainage.
“We called the Hausa boys to come and clean from the beginning to the end of the tunnel which leads to the Interwoba
“So immediately after each rainfall within 10 minutes it will dry otherwise we cannot stay in our shop.
“I am begging the government to come to our rescue, even if they want to open the gutter or canal. It will help in preventing the flooding or they should clean the gutters starting from Ikwerre Road to the Interwoba axis”, he said
On his part,Mr. Ajaka Olawa, lamented that the flooding in Timber area by Abuja bypass area is so terrible that no businesses can easily be carried on in the area.
He blamed it on the continuous blockage of drainages
. “I can’t remember the last time the government came to clean the drainage, so when it rains we find it difficult to stay here.
“Some of our shops are wet because of the flooding. And if the rain falls heavily, we pack our goods. If not. they get damaged, and I am expecting this message to reach the government for them to do something about it”
“The people, the government gives the job are not being followed up, that’s why the road is still looking bad,
“The government is trying, but they should put more effort to make sure that the jobs are being carried out.
Also, Mr. Chukuma said, during the flooding along Abuja bypass by Timber, no activities take place.
He said that if rain falls, either little or heavy, none can use the road because the road will be inundated by water. Sometimes it takes two to three days for the water to dry.
According to him, eight years ago, the former governor was here to see things for himself, but nothing happened till he left office.
By: Victoria Gilbert / Ossia Victory
Following the rising impact of toxic waste in the Niger Delta communities in Nigeria, an Ecological Think Tank, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, has urged oil-producing communities in the region to monitor their environment and report incidents of pollution or other environmental hazards in real time to appropriate authorities.
The Project Manager, Communities and Culture, HOMEF, Cadmus Atake gave the advice last Friday during a Community Environmental Monitoring Training for the people of Nembe, Town-Brass in Bayelsa and Eastern Obolo, Akwa Ibom States respectively which was held in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Atake said though the extractive activities of oil companies have impacted negatively on the communities, the people still have a role to play in protecting the environment by not throwing plastics in the water bodies or engaging in activities inimical to the environment.
He said, “The purpose is to train the people on how they can monitor their environment that has been impacted by extractive activities, for them to observe the changes that occur in their environment and things they see when they go out to fish.”
Atake also harped on the need for documentation and reporting of the identified environmental challenges or pollution, saying that monitoring without reporting would be an effort in futility even as he tasked them with the accuracy, authenticity and originality of data without any mutilation.
He encouraged people to use mobile phones to take real-time photos and videos without editing the images in the case of pollution or oil spills.
His words, “Reporting is an essential aspect of any monitoring activity. It affords the opportunities to track the activity and its impacts. It makes an activity visible and draws attention to it. Also, it helps to identify associated risks and to know the required controls and learning outcomes needed to prevent the reoccurrence of failures of an activity. No monitoring exercise is complete without a report of observations and a point of action.
“You must identify what caused the pollution, state the name of the community and landmark and if possible, use GPS, time and date the pollution was observed.”
One of the participants, OmusuoDieworio from Bayelsa State noted that apart from the activities of the multinationals, the people have contributed to the disappearance of fishes in the rivers by dumping refuse and plastic wastes inside the river which posed a great threat to fishes even as he urged community leaders to promulgate laws prohibiting that and the youth leaders to ensure the enforcement.
“Our people should be sensitized on the hazards of toxic waste. We should put laws that are binding on us. Our fishermen should discipline themselves enough after drinking sachet water eating should not drop the waterproof inside the water. They should also be discouraged from using dynamite and other chemicals for fishing as all these are harmful to both the aquatic animals and human beings that will consume it.” He said.
Speaking on the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, UmoIsua-Ikoh of the Peace Pact Development Foundation, said the provision in the PIA where the community should forfeit its 3% development fund in case of pipeline vandalism criminalizes the community and should be expunged noting that no community will agree to vandalize pipeline but an individual or a criminal.
He said they should go after anyone who vandalises pipelines and not make the entire community bear the brunt of one person.
On his part, Stephen Oduware, the Program Manager at Fossil Politics, called on the communities to network with CSOs, CBOs, doctors, lawyers, media especially those from their communities and other community members who have the community at heart to advocate at all fronts.
“The community people should partner with CSOs, CBOs so that they will be able to advocate from all fronts from the health implication of this pollution from the legal and human right violations as a result of this pollution, land grabbing and then they will be able to get well-researched works from the academics, we believe that with this network they will be able to push for the justice they needed.” He said.
The Delta State Govern-
ment says it is working hard to tackle the issue of climate change in the state.
Special Adviser to the state Governor on Sustainable Development Goals) (SDGs, Lady Diana Eyo _Enoette, said this in an interview with newsmen during the launching of Green City Project in Port Harcourt.
She said the government was doing this by raising awareness on the impact of climate change in the State and also control the indiscriminate dumping of waste across the State.
Eye-Emoette said government has also setup scouts across the State to embark on tree planting campaign in all nooks and crannies of Delta State.
She said time has come for governments across the Niger Delta region to create more awareness on climate change, adding that continuous human activities in the region have made it vulnerable to climate change
Diana described her government as a leading voice on climate change as far as the Niger Delta region is concerned and stressed the need for other governments in the region to follow suit.
She said Green City’s initiatives have become a potent weapon in fighting climate change, stressing that the initiative is coming at the appropriate time.
The special advise said governments across the country should key into the green city’s projects inorder to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
Meanwhile, a university teacher, Professor Magnus Onuoha, has called for conscious efforts by governments across Africa to check carbon emissions.
The university teacher also described the green city’s initiatives as a safe avenue for emerging cities in Africa.
Prof Onuoha, who spoke via videophone described the project as innovative, adding that climate change is real and no longer fallacies.
According to him “it is glaringly telling on our faces and the possibility of it going away is not there”.
He said.
By: John Bibor