Erosion: Fear Grips Delta Ijaw Community Begs Government For help As Community Maybe Wiped Out Soon

Erosion: Fear Grips Delta Ijaw Community 

Begs Government For help As Community Maybe Wiped Out Soonest

Lamments that James Manager, Nicholas Mutu's Representation Unimpactful 

Palpable fear, tension and anxiety has enveloped residents of Abari Community in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State over erosion which poses grave threat to the community as over fifty houses has been wiped away into the river Niger.

Abari is one of the Communities in Patani Local Government Area that is situated along the bank of the River Niger.

Their major occupation is fishing, farming and trading. They are hand working people, peaceful and loving people among the Ijaws of Delta State.

At the National Assembly, they are represented by one of the longest serving Senators in Nigeria, Senator James Manager and as well as one of the longest serving Honourable member in the house of representative, Hon. Nicholas Mutu. Both at different time has chairman the house committee  on NDDC, ironically, their presence over the years has not reflected in Abari Community as resident alleged that projects linked to them are often abandoned.

At the state level, Abari community is represented by Hon. Senebe

All things been equal, from Patani to Abari community, ordinarily is not more than 20 minutes drive if the road is constructed, but presently the only means to get to Patani, the headquarter of the local government is either navigating through the River Niger by speedboat through the river niger which is invariably which is invariably expensive and according to a speedboat driver,  the journey will last for about 3 to 4 hours regardless of the risk involved.

Though there is an alternative route which residents laments that they have to cross through four local government council area namely; Ndokwa- East, Isoko North, Isoko South and Ughelli North before getting to Patani. 

The ordeal of residents is so tense especially in the raining season. While still battling in the euphoria of bad roads, poor health infrastructures, lack of pipe borne water, electricity and schools,  erosion from the River Niger is about sacking the entire community as has over 50 houses, graves, fishing canoes, speedboats, engines and properties worth millions of naira has already been eroded away.

Moved by their plight, Journalists on Saturday, July 28, 2020 embarked on a journey to have an assessment of the area. The journey started at about 8:15am from the Asaba-Ase Jetty, one of the Ndokwa-East Communities also situated at the bank of the River Niger. From there we took a drop of a speed boat that took us to Abari community since travelling through the road leading to the community is impossible. Though it was awarded by the Delta State Governor to MONIR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY NIGERIA LIMITED since 2018. 

On our way to Abari, the driver of the speed boat at a point told us that the track we driving through, use to be part of the community, but its unfortunate that erosion has claimed it all. It is about 150 metres away from the shoreline. One could see the devastating effects of the erosion to the community as few houses which part of has been enmeshed into the river were seen with cracks.

Our speedboat finally berthed at the only access point, the shore to the community at the moment as the erosion has damaged visibly everywhere entrance. 

It was at the back of the Ayinma Primary School. This primary school was about 250 metres away from the river according to Mr. Abraham Zituboh, the community chairman, who welcomed Journalists. Due to the frustration and pains they are suffering, some of the youths were not too friendly especially when they saw roving cameras and phones taking photos. 

"Una don't come again, bad people, every year una go come with una camera, yet una not dey do anything. E go red for una one day, the visibly angry youths stated". 

Close to the river bank stand a six block of classroom which will in no distant time will be submerged by the flood. It has no roof. We ask what happened to the roof were told by Deacon Abraham Zituboh that the community have to remove the roof before it will be claimed by the erosion. " We have to remove the roof because other houses has been eroded including the roof, so we deem it fit to be proactive and remove the roof and move the pupils from that area".

NDDC OFFICIALS VISIT:

According to Deacon Abraham Zituboh, officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, had on several occasion and time visited the community. He told journalists at each visit, they keep telling them that have come for Environmental Impact Assessment EIA. 

"Each time they visit, they will take photographs, video the impact of the erosion caused by the wave and go away, and you will not hear from them again, he lamented".

We ask if they have written to the NDDC, his response was in the affirmative as noted that several letters have been written and revealed that the piling of the shoreline was among the contracts they heard has been awarded but contractor not known to them.

Mr. Goddy Ogbotobo, the Abari community youth leader who was so sad said; 

"Our community will be wiped out soon and Abari people will become history if the government refuse to come our aid and act fast". 

Continuing Mr. Goddy Ogbotoboh queried by asking; Are we no longer part of this country? We voted for them from councillorship to the presidency, but they abandoned us to die out of history". 

While pointing at a distance, he said; "I no longer have a home, my father's house, his grave and everything are inside that place as he points to the river".

In all sincerity, when you visit Abari community, you will shared tears as you watch houses go down the sea on daily basis as residents and owners of houses watch helplessly. You could see the pains in their eyes as landlords has become tenants while sleep elude residents for the fear of the unknown. 

Narrating the litanies of challenges faced by the community, Deacon Abraham Zituboh, the community chairman noted that, in frustration and despair, the community embarked on a peaceful protest to the Delta State House of Assembly Asaba on January 21, 2020, to register their grievances before the government, but alleged that their efforts were frustrated by some top politicians whom he alleged hailed from the area. 

"They frustrated us from seeing the government and queried us for coming over to Asaba. Our intention was to see the governor and ask him why any project giving to us is always abandoned".

With the number of complains and allegations levelled against some contractors and politicians, we decided to take a walk around the community to see some of the abandoned projects. Our first point of call was the 6 kilometre road leading from Asaba-Asein Ndokwa-West Local Government Area to Abari. What we saw was just a stretch of drain on both side of the road covered with water and grass, as some part could not be accessed even on foot.

According to the community, the contract was awarded by the state government to MCC NIG. LTD in 2018, but till date only part of the drains has been done before it was abandoned as residents suffered untold hardships and pains.

Woman PRO  of the community, Madam Koloni vbmAmafa said, year in year out contracts are awarded but no one is ever completed. She said; "We are suffering. Our farm products most time waste away as it cost about #7,000:00 to #8,000:00 to ferry a small quantity of farm produce to the market and by the time you finish selling, you discovered you have no gains".

ABANDONED COTTAGE HOSPITAL:

They took us to the cottage hospital and two staff quarters building awarded by NDDC since 2012 to SHADY BRIGGS NIG. LTD.

On arrival at the site, it was difficult for us to see the abandoned building as elephant grasses has overgrown  the building. They have to engage a community man to clear the site for us to access the sign post in order to see the contractor's name. We discovered that the cottage hospital building was only at window level while the staff quarter buildings were at lintel level. We pressed further to know while the project was abandoned, the response was, "we don't know".

PERIMETER FENCE AT ABARI SECONDSRY SCHOOL:

These project according to the community chairman, was awarded by DESOPADEC in 2014, but the contractor is not known to them. The project was abandoned at foundation level of just two blocks. 

ICT CENTRE BUILDING:

We could not access the project due to the bad nature of the road, but we were told that the project was awarded to ABHILI ABIE & SONS LIMITED in 2014 but still at DCP level, and today the site is overgrown by grass as it has been abandoned.

HEALTH CENTRE: 

They took us to the primary health centre, and what we saw on ground was so disgusting, irritating and nauseating as the environment alone will effect one of different diseases. What we saw were shattered ceilings, broken doors and windows. The compound was bushy and dirty as well as a dilapidated structure devoid of health equipments. We were moved to ask if the building is in use, but the women looked at us and replied by asking us; what do we do? If health truly is wealth, then no sane human being will visit the Abari community health centre. 

One of the community woman who do not want her name mentioned, told us that the only place they can access health facility is at Oleh in Isoko South Local Government Area. She said there is increase infant mortality due to the poor health system in the area. "Imagine when a woman is in labour, you will have to go and shatter a speedboat to take you to either Patani or Oleh, and if you cannot afford that, the woman may either die while watching her".

DESOPADEC PROJECTS UNCOMPLETED

We also visited the Abari Secondary School to see the renovation of two six block of classrooms awarded to TESAM NIG. LTD in 2013 and three block of flats for teachers quarters awarded to PORBCO & SONS NIG. LTD. While that of PORBCO & SONS NIG. LTD is at 80% to completion, others are abandoned.  According to the chairman, the contractor, PORBCO NIG. LTD told them that due to the increase in materials, he is asking for an upward review by DESOPADEC.  Also, the Science Laboratory building awarded in 2010 by DESOPADEC, but to the contractor unknown. That project has been overtaken by a thick bush. 

We went back to Asaba-Ase where MCC NIG. LTD equipments were stationed. When we get there, we discovered that all their equipments were parked along the road with no sign of coming back to site soon.

Irked by the situation, we were asked to go and see the National President of Abari Improvement Union AIU, Deacon Peter Pibowei. We have to book appointment with him and on Sunday, July 26, 2020, these team of Journalists from different medium visited him at Warri, Delta State. 

Deacon Peter Pibowei who seem to worried displayed before us series of letters and documents as well as contacts of some known contractors. His story was not different from that of the community chairman and the youth leader. But his major concerned was that of the piling of the shoreline and completion of the road leading to the community.

Documents and letters writing to both DESOPADEC and NDDC were displayed. Deacon Pibowei, the National President of Abari Community on behalf of the community wrote to DESOPADEC on September 2, 2019 and a team of DESOPADEC Engineers were sent to come and verify if truly such projects are on ground, but said they told him that their reports has gone to management. 

He also disclosed that on January 21, 2019, some NDDC officials visited the community to carry out ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSEMENT EIA,  and in March 2020, that in March 2019 they came  for further survey and evaluation. He said it was at this time they told the community leadership that the job will be allotted to  ten different contractors. Till December that year, there was no answer from them, hence they sent a reminder letter to them but the letter was only acknowledge on January 21, 2020.

Deacon Peter Pibowei who is angry with those representing them noted, that Abari community was earnest  blessed with projects, but said the reverse is the case as none of this projects is delivered. He expressed his total disappointment on Senator James Manager and Hon. Nicholas Mutu. How vowed that if they find out that any of them is indicted in the projects giving to the community, then they will see the other side of the community.

We decided to speak with the contractors, but only SHADY BRIGGS NIG. LTD could call back and responded to our query. He said NDDC refused to mobilized him to site and said he has nothing to tell journalists but they should go to NDDC as all his documents regarding the contract is with them.

On his part, MCC NIG. LTD sent a text asking us to send our inquiry to a particular GSM  number he sent.