…demand emergency assessment, shoreline protection and adequate funding to save historic Bayelsa community
By Gloria Ikibah 
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently provide funding for erosion control in Odi Kingdom, Bayelsa State, warning that the historic Ijaw community faces the threat of extinction if immediate action is not taken.
The House made the call on Tuesday following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Rep. Oboku Oforji, member representing Yenagoa/Kolokoma Opokuma Federal Constituency of
Bayelsa State on Tuesday at plenary, which highlighted the destruction of homes, farmlands, public infrastructure and livelihoods caused by the worsening erosion.
The lawmakers urged the Federal Government to deploy relevant agencies to address the environmental crisis and provide adequate budgetary allocations for comprehensive shoreline protection and land reclamation projects.
According to the motion, Odi Kingdom, one of the oldest Ijaw settlements in Bayelsa State, has experienced intensified shoreline erosion since an earth tremor reportedly struck the community in 2025, accelerating the destruction of buildings and other vital assets.
The motion warned that the erosion was consuming portions of the community daily, exposing residents to displacement, poverty and further environmental hazards.
“The persistent erosion continues to consume large portions of the community on a daily basis, threatening lives, livelihoods, critical infrastructure, and the very existence of Odi Kingdom,” he stated.
The lawmaker expressed concern that, despite the scale of the destruction, the relevant federal agencies had yet to undertake a comprehensive intervention to address the crisis.
It called on the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Federal Ministry of Works, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ecological Project Office and other relevant agencies to conduct an emergency assessment and begin permanent shoreline protection, erosion control and land reclamation works.
The lawmakers also emphasised the need for adequate budgetary provisions to support comprehensive environmental restoration and stabilisation projects.
Following the adoption of the motion, which received overwhelming support from members, the House mandated its Committees on Environment; Emergency and Disaster Preparedness; Ecological Funds; and the NDDC to conduct a joint on-the-spot assessment of the affected community.
The committees are expected to submit their findings and recommendations for immediate legislative action within four weeks.
Oforji cited Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.
He argued that the constitutional provision placed an obligation on the Federal Government to protect lives and property threatened by the environmental disaster.
The motion warned that continued neglect could lead to further displacement and worsen the humanitarian, environmental and socio-economic challenges facing Bayelsa State and the wider Niger Delta region.
Odi Kingdom has previously suffered a major tragedy. In November 1999, a military invasion destroyed much of the community, forcing residents to rebuild their homes and livelihoods.
The latest erosion crisis has emerged as another serious threat to the survival of the community, with lawmakers insisting that urgent federal intervention is necessary to prevent further destruction.
