Group Berates FG over Coastal Erosion Ravaging Niger Delta

The Niger Delta Patriotic Front (NDPF) has expressed deep disappointment over the federal government's failure to tackle the coastal erosion wreaking havoc in over 150 communities across the Niger Delta region. Specifically, the group highlighted the plight of several riverine communities in Bayelsa, Delta, and Ondo states, including Agge in Bayelsa, Forcados in Burutu, Ugborodo Federated Communities in Warri South-West, and several others in Delta and Ondo states that have lost significant portions of their land to the encroaching ocean.

The NDPF's President, David Odeli, and Publicity Secretary, Timi Okubor, in a joint statement, accused successive Nigerian administrations of neglecting the Niger Delta since the nation's independence in 1960. They argued that despite being the region that produces the lion's share of Nigeria's crude oil and gas, the Niger Delta continues to experience national exclusion and a lack of proper integration into the broader nation, further compounded by underdeveloped infrastructure.

The group lamented the poor state of critical transportation links in the region, such as the 422.9 km Warri to Calabar East-West Road, the Lagos-Benin-Asaba Road, Benin-Sapele-Warri Road, and Koko-Ogheye-Lekki Lagos Road. They also criticized the placement of the International Oil Companies' (IOCs) headquarters outside the Niger Delta, arguing that this further isolates the region from national economic activities.

Moreover, the NDPF underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive regional policy, developed in collaboration with affected state governments, to safeguard coastal communities from the devastating impacts of sea pressure. They called on the federal government to ensure optimal operation of all seaports in the Niger Delta and prioritize the rehabilitation of the Warri and Port-Harcourt refineries to mitigate the volatility of crude oil prices at the international market and their direct effect on the cost of refined petroleum products.

In a separate development, the people of Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State have raised alarms over the deplorable condition of their general hospital. This facility, built by Chevron Nigeria Limited in 2013 at a cost of N600 million, is now virtually abandoned, lacking adequate staff, basic medical equipment, and essential supplies. The hospital, intended to serve the oil-rich coastal communities of Warri North, now falls far short of its intended purpose.

Dr. Bright Abulu, president-general of the Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Community, and Reverend Clement Doyah-Tiemo, secretary-general, in their statement, called for the immediate intervention of the Delta State government to fully rehabilitate, staff, and equip the hospital. They emphasized that beyond mere gestures of palliative measures, the hospital must become fully functional and accessible to ensure the well-being of the communities it serves.

The community has already taken steps to maintain the hospital through communal efforts, including providing solar power, essential drugs, and basic medical equipment, but these measures have proven insufficient to meet the growing healthcare demands.