Our Community Has Been Submerged, Says Benikrukru PRO

…Calls on NDDC, Delta State Govt, FG to Expedite Actions on Release of Funds earmarked for Shore Protection Project Of Community.

An indigene of the oil rich Benikrukru community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, Comrade Joel A. Tonjoh has raised the alarm over the precarious flood situation in the community.

Speaking to newsmen, Comrade Tonjoh who is also the Public Relations Officer of Benikrukru Community Executive Council cried out that the oil rich riverine Community which is host to the NNPC/Chevron Nigeria Limited’s largest swamp operations has been submerged and therefore called for the urgent intervention of the government, relevant agencies and non-governmental organizations to save the situation.

According to him also; “I want to passionately appeal to both the Federal and State Governments, NDDC, DESOPADEC, the NNPC and Chevron Nigeria Limited to come to the aid of our community. The contract for the sand filling of the community has since been awarded. However, for some reasons funds earmarked for the project are yet to be released. Meanwhile, the trees which served as natural protection for the community’s shoreline have since been cleared and this has further aggravated the flood situation and exposed the community to further damage”.

Flooded Riverine Benikrukru Communinty

“Our Community has been submerged. We need urgent assistance. As I speak, our people are passing through untold hardship. I want to use this medium to call on Governor Okowa to come to our aid. The Governor should send his team to Benikrukru Community to ascertain the situation of things. We are really suffering”, he added.

According to him also; “We, therefore, call on the government to intervene timeously to prevent our community from being washed away by the surging flood. We implore the government to urgently deploy the ecological funds to the community and provide relief materials for displaced persons. We need the assistance of the government more than ever as our people have been exposed to untold hardship in the wake of rising water levels.”