By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
RESIDENTS of Odi community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have raised alarm over worsening landslides and coastal erosion that are threatening homes, roads and livelihoods.
What was once a relatively stable shoreline has, in recent weeks, given way to advancing waters and collapsing riverbanks. Several buildings have reportedly been damaged, access roads cut off and families displaced as the environmental degradation deepens.
Community members describe the situation as both frightening and urgent. One resident told Stonix News that unless swift action is taken, the community risks being wiped out entirely.
“If nothing is done, one day we may wake up and find our village gone,” the resident lamented, adding that the fear of losing ancestral homes has become a daily reality.
Appeals to State and Federal Governments
Emotional appeals have circulated across social media platforms, calling on the Bayelsa State Government led by Governor Douye Diri and the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu to intervene urgently.
Residents attribute the crisis to a combination of heavy rainfall, unstable riverbanks and the long-standing environmental vulnerabilities of the Niger Delta region.
They warn that without immediate and sustained intervention, the situation could escalate into a full-blown humanitarian emergency.
Although the state government has previously conducted on-the-spot assessments in affected areas, including the Isonbiri compound, locals insist that visits and preliminary evaluations are insufficient.
“We appreciate the assessments, but we need concrete action,” a youth leader in the community said. “Temporary measures will not solve this problem.”
Call for Long-Term Solutions
The community is demanding comprehensive shoreline protection and erosion control projects, alongside federal intervention through agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
In one emotional social media post that has since gained attention, a resident pleaded: “Odi people need help. Please come and help us.”
As the landslides continue and floodwaters encroach further inland, the people of Odi say they are living on borrowed time. Their hope, they say, is that their growing outcry will prompt decisive and lasting action before nature claims more of their ancestral land.
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