IYC Sends SOS To NDDC Over Blockade Of Waterways By Water Hyacinth

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC has sent a Save Our Soul (SOS) message to the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC to rescue its riverine communities from the imminent dangers posed by Water Hyacinth on its waterways.

This urgent call was contained in a press release signed by Pereotubo Oweilaemi Esq., IYC President Worldwide on Saturday, June 22, 2019, where the Youth body also called on the Commission to investigate the contractor handling the abandoned 46 kilometers Udo-Ofunama Road project.

The statement as obtained by ASABA METRO reads below.

BLOCKADE OF WATER WAYS: IYC SENDS SOS TO NDDC

The riverine communities in the Niger Delta have been suffering from the perennial problem of blockade of the waterways by water hyacinth. Many of the communities are usually trapped in the riverine areas during this season. If not the interventions of government agencies, there would have been a big problem.

Currently, over 70 communities in Egbema Kingdom and environ both in Delta and Edo States have been suffering from this scourge. Water weeds have taken over the entire the Creeks in the Benin River and its estuaries thereby making life miserable for the inhabitants.

As we speak now, communities such as: Ofunama, Opuama, Polobubou, Ogbodugbudo, Ogboinbiri among others in Egbema Kingdom are being trapped by the water hyacinth which has locked up the entire Creeks. People cannot go about their lawful businesses as movements in and out of the affected communities are restricted. All the access roots to the communities including the Sapele axis have been taken over by the floating weeds.

IYC is calling on NDDC to immediately respond to the plight of these communities. Let the Commission extends its intervention projects on water hyacinth to the Egbema Kingdom and other affected Niger Delta communities. NDDC should do all it can to save these communities from the looming humanitarian crisis arising from the scourge.

Unless urgent steps are taken to cushion the effects, we foresee epidemic of human disaster that will be of an unimaginable proportion.

We also use this medium to call on the Commission to investigate JAPAUL MINES & PRODUCT LIMITED who is handling the abandoned 46 kilometers UDO-OFUNAMA Road. The contractor needs to be questioned on what happened to the project. If however that the completion of the project is being delayed because of none release of funds to the contractor then NDDC should accordingly release funds for its completion.