PAULINE ONYIBE In the Niger Delta region, ocean surge is a common occurrence. However, in Sangana and Odioma communities of Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the communities are at the verge of extinction following unusual surges. PAULINE ONYIBE, takes a look at the case of Sangana and what is being done to arrest the menace
At the mercy of Ocean surge One of the major challenges being faced by many of the communities in Niger Delta region, either by those communities in the creeks or by the riverside, is that of Ocean surge, which the people blame on oil exploration and exploitation activities by oil companies operating in these communities.
Every passing day, people of these communities live in constant fear as they are at the mercy of the Ocean and never sure of what nature may throw at them. So they live with that constant trepidation unsure of what becomes of their fate as often times houses and other property within sight are submerged by the ocean whenever ocean rage visits.
For the people of Sangana and Odioma communities in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, there is always palpable fear because of the constant ocean rage that has over the years decimated their communities, resulting not only in the loss of houses and property, but also of lives and their sources of livelihood.
This reporter during a visit to Sangana community sometime last year witnessed the devastation that ocean surge has visited on the community, with most of the houses that were still standing in 2016 now under the sea as they are said to have been consumed by the surge.
On March 16, 2024, the community witnessed one of the most devastating and destructive ocean surges that almost made mincemeat of what is left of it, leaving the people scampering for safety and security as they were once more exposed to the vagaries of nature with no help in sight.
Whenever you visit any of these communities as this reporter often do, you are left wondering why both the Federal and Bayelsa State governments have all through the ages failed to address some of these environmental challenges knowing full well that places like Sangana are host communities to oil companies.
It would be recalled that towards the last quarter of 2022, a major gas leak occurred in Sangana community orchestrated by Conoil, as the leak emanated from their Adriatic One platform.
Activities of Conoil
The leak displaced most of the community people, with some of them fleeing to Yenagoa to seek medical attention as a result of the dangerous effect of the gas leak on their environment while those who couldn’t afford proper medical care were left to their fate, suffering different manner of ailments.
The community was left to suffer from the activities of the oil company, with the state and federal government looking the other way except for the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who visited the community when the March 16 ocean surge occurred based on the orders of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to access the extent of environmental pollution and sufferings of the people.
One of the things that the people are not happy about is the abandonment of the shoreline protection project that was started by NDDC. It is not yet clear whether the abandonment is as a result of NDDC failure to pay the contractor handling the project or dereliction of duty by the contractor. The people lamented that if the shoreline protection project was completed as envisaged, it would have mitigated largely their pains and sufferings, but now they are left without a buffer.
Protests by community
It is on record that the community has for years been at loggerhead with the oil company over their failure to clean up the environment and help rebuild the community following the losses incurred from the gas leak and their exploration activities.
One of the ways that the community has shown their displeasure is by embarking on series of protests against the oil company. One of such protests was said to have resulted in the death of one of the youths in the community when they were confronted by military officers believed to have been attached to the oil’s company platform.
Our plight
Recounting the ordeals of the community, His Royal Highness, Theophilus Moses, Kenibara VII, the Amadabo of Mokoama lamented that the situation in Sangana community still remains the same few weeks after the recent surge, stating that there is no remediation yet.
According to him, “the community is being exposed very vulnerably. NDDC Managing Director and his team came and made some very serious promises, we are still looking forward for intervention from these agencies to come to the aid of Sangana community. The community is very vulnerable now and little slide of water will go straight into the houses of people.
‘‘The state government has a lot do as it concerns communities that are within the purview of the sea shore. State government can carry out projects for embankments and wave barriers so that we will not have a very serious encroachment in the communities particularly Sangana community which also contribute enormous wealth to the nation and state at large.
‘‘So the State government can embark on a project that will help in protecting the shore. I think it is not too big. But the truth is that as we speak, we have not heard anything from the government. No promises, no response or any visit or even any relief materials to the community and this is very pathetic.
“We have Conoil, NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, First E and P, Chevron and that is why we decided to approach this issue in this peaceful way otherwise we would have just got angry and dived into all these oil companies to so say no.
‘‘That nothing should be done until the federal government comes to our aid but remember that oil companies are in joint ventures with the federal government and NNPC which represents the federal government, parts with 60/40 with the oil companies and the oil companies out of that 40% go ahead to do what is called Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).
‘‘Right now, you are aware of the PIA where we have what is called the Host Community Development Trust, which of course, most of the companies operating in our area have not complied with. ‘‘That is to say most oil companies may not likely want to do any other intervention or CSR since they are using the OPEX 3% to fund the host communities’ development trust.’’
The traditional ruler further explained, “we stand tall to say that we have contributed a lot to the wealth of the nation so keeping Sangana vulnerable to this ocean surge and this encroachment we really do not deserve that. Because if a community is having this kind of production and you know what it means to the federal government and if the community is left to suffer with this kind of total neglect, it is very pathetic.
‘‘We are peace loving people and we seek to walk through the part of dialogue and we still request that all these interventionist agencies, relevant ministries, federal government and NDDC should come to our aid with immediate effect otherwise the community in the next possible time will go into extinction.’’
Unusual surge
Also, Noel Ikonikumo, who is from the community said that he has not experienced that kind of surge in the community before. According to him, “the thing that is happening here I have not experienced it before, even the oldest person in the community cannot say that he has experienced it. Just two days surge, if you see what it has destroyed in Sangana, you will marvel.
Middle Sangana is now close to the sea. “The place that has been eroded now is the end of the pilling when you are going into the creek. That is where the surge started from. This is what we have, may be after one week, the sea may overflow again. We don’t know what will happen. You have to help us cry out to the world now that Sangana is no longer safe because everybody has started parking out, those that are very close to the place have started moving.
“Erosion used to come but this one is different compared to the other ones. We are verbally crying to the government, that is what we can do now but what is happening now the remedy is money. If we have money, we can pile the community. That is the only option. If government can come and pile the place urgently, it can help the community but if nothing is done, then in the next two or three months, there will be no Sangana.
“The worst place is the middle of the community where they opened the front side that was once covered where you can trek to Fish Town. The place is completely off now. As you step down from the jetty now, you see everywhere. Everywhere is open. The place that is open the wave has started dredging the sand into the community so as it is dredging it, the wave will now climb on top of the sand and flow into the community.”
Ayibatonye Christopher Benjamin, another indigene of the community, said Sangana is completely devastated, lamenting, ‘‘if you come to Sangana and see what is happening you won’t believe it. From the jetty, you will be seeing the Atlantic Ocean now. “Everything about the Atlantic Ocean is just within your palm. It is Conoil multinational company that is causing this whole problem.
The area where they are is now too shallow because they pour their drilling chemical into the Atlantic and it is destroying the earth surface. ‘‘When SAIPEN came into this territory in 1998 that was what they did. After drilling, the waste they were supposed to take to somewhere else according their operation but when they came to the territory after drilling, the waste was just poured into the seabed.
Now the whole of that place that the company is now has become mere shallow land as the quantity of water that place was consuming before is no longer there. “The community is gone. If by the next tide a bigger one comes, I wonder whether we will be safe at that point. Just two days, it destroyed that entire place, when it comes in the next four or five days, definitely the community will be packing even as I speak now my mother has packed from where she was.
“She was at the roadside but she has packed. A lot of people have packed. People are rendered homeless now as we speak. To ameliorate this problem the government at different levels should come to make available some palliatives because the waves are coming from that far. ‘‘So if anything has to be done even if the embankment will be done, let the state and federal governments work together and put some wave breakers.
If that is done, I know it will try to ameliorate this whole flood that is hitting on the land to destroy the entire earth crux of the land otherwise in the next four to six months, I wonder where Sangana will be.’’ He expressed disappointment with the government, noting that one month after the surge, nothing has been done.
According to him, “For now, the whole destruction is like that. The thing depends on the tide of the ocean. It is always very bad when there is a big tide. Apart from the big tide, there are others that are very rough. Those ones are also destructive.’’
Threat to source of livelihood
Chief Thankgod Robinson Angadega, speaking on the development said, ‘‘you know that when ocean surge happens unexpectedly like that, houses are affected, livelihood is affected. There is threat to lives and the fishing activity is disrupted.
“This hydrophilic tide area is prone to all these successive wave attacks coupled with the operations of all these oil companies and their chemicals that they are now depositing in our areas. It has effect on the soil, so it has affected the soil context. So it weakens the soil context to the extent that it can’t withstand any aggressive wave action.
“We have been crying over the years, even the old Sangana has been wiped off and we have been crying before now and this one now in the middle of the community. It has cut across the community which has never happened before. “Government should come in immediately because we have been crying overtime and if timely intervention is carried out, I don’t know what will happen to the lives of the people. “We have long written to the oil companies.
Even if they are not going to do it, they can raise money that we can use to do it by ourselves. Until people now take guns before the government will say why did they take law into their hands but we have been shouting all these while.’’ Ayibatonye Koki, an indigene of the community, who works with the Ministry of Environment, Bayelsa State, described what happened, stating that the little piece of land that is covering the community from the ocean has been cut off and the sea wave has been harassing the community.
While Mrs Salome Abadida, a wood logger in the community, lamented that the impact of the ocean surge has affected them seriously, adding that they now have to go inside to log the woods instead of at the sea shore as wave and surge have brought down the trees and dragging the sand out.
According to her, “Even the surge now has entered the creek. The surge has broken from the sea side to the creek. The next water that will come I don’t know because the sea has risen. The wave is now passing through the stones and the rods that they used to pile the place and it is pumping water into the community.’’
Environmentalist decries neglect
Moris Alagoa, an environmentalist with environmental rights action group, Friends of The Earth, said, “There has been so much concern by stakeholders on the ecological and environmental challenges posed by coastal and riverbank erosion in Bayelsa State.
‘‘Hence, the NDDC should not delay in taking practical action to protect the shoreline of Sangana. The Presidency should ensure that our coastline communities are protected, to prevent them from being washed off the face of the earth.
‘‘These ecological challenges have the potential of bringing about inter-communal wars as those displaced by ocean surge and coastal erosion seek safer environment to relocate. Besides, people in such communities are suffering psychological trauma; as they think about losing their houses and other properties, including their ancestral homes.
‘‘Let me call again on the Bayelsa State government to establish a Flood and Erosion Control Commission that would be empowered by law to collaborate with federal government interventionist agencies and other global development bodies. Part of the 13% should be channeled to the Commission, say 2% of the 13% derivation, because several communities are suffering from these twin ecological and environmental challenges.’’
He commended Bayelsa State Governor Senator Duoye Diri, for creating the Flood and Erosion Control Directorate, however, he said more action is needed on the government part to fully address this perennial problem otherwise the people are left to their fate. ‘‘Yes, it is commendable that the Douye Diriled administration created a Flood and Erosion Control Directorate.
This is good, but I think; owing to the special typical Deltaic terrain of Bayelsa State and the menace posed by flood and coastal erosion, a legally backed Commission is needful. ‘‘Communities along the coastline affected include Odioama, Twon-Brass, Okpoama, Sangana, Kongho, Okumbiri, Koluama, Foropa, Ekeni, Ezetu, Bilabiri, and Agge as well as many more. ‘‘Others that suffer riverbank erosion in the state include Anibeze, Odi, Sampou, Northern part of Kaiama, Obogoro, Famgbe, Canaan Irri, Abobiri, Ayama Ogbia, Peremabiri, Olugbobiri, Okpotuwari, Lasukugbene and many more.
‘‘Finally, the NDDC should return to all communities where shoreline protection contract were awarded and complete them, as in Olugbobiri, Amassoma, Kongho and others to save our communities.”
Ogbuku’s visit
Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Ogbuku on the order of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited Sangana community for an on-the-spot assessment of the level of devastation, and donated some relief materials for the immediate needs of the people who were displaced by the ocean surge.
According to him, the President was happy with the people of the community because of its economic importance and the sustained peace over the years which created the enabling environment for oil exploration and exploitation activities. He said: “Before your letter of appeal arrived our head office in Port Harcourt, the ocean surge in Sangana was already publicised in the media.
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, saw it and directed that we must come and see what is happening in Sangana and give him feedback.” Ogbuku further told the people of the community that he felt elated at the Presidential directive which indicated that the country has a very responsible President who was interested in the welfare of the people, no matter how far they are.
“My presence in your community, apart from being a son of the soil, is in response to Mr. President’s directive and having witnessed first-hand the devastation in your community, we will proceed immediately to see how we can salvage the situation.’’
While urging the people of Sangana community to continue to maintain the peace so as to attract development as development can only take place in a peaceful community, he assured them that NDDC was going to use the best modern technology to tackle the Sangana erosion scourge.
He noted: “We had earlier awarded the contract for shore protection in your community, but we are going to review it. The whole idea in NDDC is that we are also looking at new technology such as Geotube system. The system is also used in rebuilding and reclaiming the land naturally.’’
The NDDC MD/CEO also used the opportunity to call on the multinational oil companies operating in the area to partner in addressing the persistent ocean surge in the communities around the area as NDDC would not do it alone.
Ogbuku said further: “Having ascertained the situation on ground, we will go back and put the papers together and also see how we can partner with the state government and the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to see how we can all come together to ensure that we protect our communities.”
State government’s response
A reliable source from the Bayelsa State Government said that the government visited Odioma last year when the surge first occurred and promised the people that it was going to build a shoreline protection.
According to the source, “At the moment, there is no cabinet, so nobody can give you any information on those things. NDDC has visited that place and the federal government has sent a team. So you don’t go and do something when the federal government has already started doing something.
“Would you want the state to duplicate what the Federal Government is doing? It is better to focus on what the Federal Government has said it will do. Even if the state government will do anything, it will still call on the Federal Government to help because sometimes these disasters are beyond what the state government can handle.’’
