LITE (Formerly NIDPRODEV Situation Report)

FLOOD RAVAGES NGO PROJECTS’ COMMUNITIES IN THE NIGER DELTA

If urgent attention is not given to the ravaging flood which has post serious threat to the inhabitants in the Niger Delta region, the relative peace experienced in the last few years will be a mirage. Though the flooding is acclaimed to be a national issue, the impact and magnitude of it in the Niger Delta region is quite monumental compared to what is happening in other regions of Nigeria.

A nongovernmental organization, Leadership Initiative for Transformation and Empowerment (LITE-Africa) formerly Niger Delta Professionals for Development (NIDPRODEV) on a daily basis gives situation reports of communities where it operates. Field officers visits to the communities indicate that all its project communities have been overwhelmed by the heavy floods. This has affected the socio-economic status of the people in the communities. Economic livelihoods have been destroyed which is forcing people to make premature harvest of crops that have been overcome by the flood and other livelihood systems such as fish pond, poultry and livestock were destroyed and businesses stalled. The flood is also forcing people to leave their homes and take refuge in camps with little or no food, properties worth billions of naira have been lost to the floods, schools have been closed down indefinitely, and inter-state movement stalled with prices of food stuff sky-rocketing. Furthermore, commercial motor bike operators are charging exorbitant fares to transport people across flooded roads.

Some of our project communities affected by the flood resulting to inaccessibility include but are not limited to: Ekowe, Oporoma , and Amassoma in Southern Ijaw LGA; Kiama in Kolokuma/Opukuma LGA in Bayelsa State; Emede, Aviara, , , Enwhe and Igbide in LGA; and neighboring communities of Ozoro, Ada, Oyede, , and Ofagbe in Isoko North LGA in . The East-West Road has been cut off and thousands of commuters are stranded leading to traffic gridlock close to Patani community.

In Bayelsa State, over 30,000 people have been displaced and there is a daily influx of community persons into the state capital, Yenagoa where they are taking refuge in some of the schools and this has compelled the state government to temporarily close down schools to accommodate displaced persons. In Delta State, outside Asaba zone, three camps have be opened in the Isoko South Areas; one each at LITE (Formerly NIDPRODEV Situation Report)

Oleh, Ozoro and Irri. Each camp is accommodating over 4,000 persons while over 6,500 persons have been evacuated from already submerged properties.

However, government has contributed immensely to alleviate the sufferings of the affected people. Such palliative measures include; provision of mobile toilets, medical team, relief material like mattresses and food stuff such as rice, beans, yams, etc. to the camp. In addition to this, government and other philanthropist individuals and organizations have also introduced formal education and vocational training in the camp.

Please find below some more pictures taken recently depicting the damage and effects of the flood:

Flood pressure in one of affected communities - Uzere

LITE (Formerly NIDPRODEV Situation Report)

Farm produces are harvested prematurely as a result of farm lands overwhelmed by flood.

Some houses overtaken by the ravaging flood, wooden boat transport displaced persons to camps LITE (Formerly NIDPRODEV Situation Report)

Businesses/livelihood systems have been grounded as a result of the ravaging flood (cassava processing mill)

Members of community devastated by the flood LITE (Formerly NIDPRODEV Situation Report)

Large expanse of land overtaken by flood

Summary of Situation in Delta and Bayelsa States.

Delta State

1. Oshimili South- Anwai, Cable Point Areas of Asaba, Oko Communities ( Oko-Ogbele, Oko-Amakom and Oko-Anala) etc

2. Oshimili North- Illah, Ebu etc

3. Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West- Aboh, Asaba-Ase, Utchi, Kwale, Ashaka,Okpai-Oluchi, Okpai-Obeze, Beneku, Onuaboh, Iyi, Abala, Igbuku, Ossissa, Olu-Ossissa Onicha Utchi, Iburede,, Obetim etc

4. Aniocha South- Ewulu

5. Isoko South and Isoko North: Ivrogbo, Ofagbe, Uzere, Ewhen, Ovrode, Okpe- Isoko, Lagos Iyede, Igeh, Ikpide Irri, Onogboko, Itebioge, Iyede-Ame, and Azagba,Ekegbresi, Egbeme, Okrama-Oyede, WarriIrri, IwrieOgbokor, Ekpe, Asafo, Umeh, Aviara, Uzere etc

6. Burutu- Tuomo, Ogbogbagbene, Ayakoromo, Gbekebo, Bulu-Ndoro etc

7. Bomadi- Bomadi, Kpakiama, Akugbene, Ezebiri, Ogodobiri, Esanma, Ogriagbene, Ogboinama etc

8. Ughelli South- Otu-Jeremi, Okwagbe, Oginibo, Ewu etc

9. Patani- Patani, Abari, Uduophori, Odorubu, Breseigha, Agadama etc

10. Ughelli North- Ohoro, Uwheru etc LITE (Formerly NIDPRODEV Situation Report)

Some of the camps

1. St Patrick's College, Asaba

2. ICE, Asaba

3. Technical College, Kwale

4. Osssissa Secondary School, Ossissa

5. Oharisi Primary School, Ughelli

6. St. Michael's College, Oleh

7. St Vincent's Grammar School, Okwagbe etc

Bayelsa State

More than 20 Camps Created

IDP Camps

1. Yenagoa Sports Complex

2. Ugbene

3. Okolobiri

4. Kaiama

5. Tombia

6. Ekpetiama

7. Ayama

8. Ogbia

9. Ekeremor

10. Oporoma and more LITE (Formerly NIDPRODEV Situation Report)

Communities most Affected

Kaiama and its environ, Odi, Agudama, Sampou, Biseni, Agbere, Trofani, Okoloba,Opokuma, Tungbo

Relief Effort/Response Required

Short Term

Relief Materials in- Mainly in kind

1. Clothing

2. Food stuff

3. Beddings

4. Medication

Medium and Long Term

Comprehensive assessment of short, medium and Long Term Impact.