The people of Onyah community, Ndokwa East local government area of Delta State have cried out to the state and Federal governments and the leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) to as a matter of urgency and importance come to their rescue on the looming erosion disaster set to wipe out their entire community, lands and properties.
HardReporters reliably gathered that in recent times, disastrous erosion has continued to threatened the area as the people who only means of livelihood is farming and fishing continued to have their houses, lands and properties washed off by the life threatening erosion.
It was learnt that on the 2nd of September 2016, during the constituency briefing/Town hall meeting of the member representing Ndokwa East in the state house of Assembly, and deputy speaker of the house, Mr. Friday Ossai Osanebi, had broke the news that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) had provided for ” Reclamation of Onyah town ” in its 2016 budget.
According to the community, the initial joy and enthusiasm that earlier greeted the entire Onyah indigenes when the deputy speaker broke the news of the budgetary provision for the “Reclamation of Onyah town” in the 2016 NDDC budget, have long faded away.
In letter entitled “An Open Appeal Letter To The Management Of NDDC For The Speedy Award Of The Contract “Reclamation Of Onyah Town.(LOT 1-12) As Provides For In The 2016 NDDC Budget.” on behalf of tje community, signed by Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Daniel Ogiriki, an indigene of Onyah community, obtained by HardReporters correspondent, lamented the problems been faced by the riverine community as a result of the erosion.
“I was particularly gladdened by this information because I have been at the forefront (almost single handedly) drawing the attention of the government to the plight of my community through the effective use of social media. At a time, people accused me of been too personal on the issue of the erosion challenge that is facing my hometown, Onyah.
“For me social media was one of the best ways of drawing the attention of the government of the day to the plights of my community knowing fully well that my hometown is not accessible by road. After 8 months of the announcement of the budgetary provision by NDDC that ought to arrest the erosion challenge of Onyah town, the project is yet to be awarded.
“I have been contacting the various persons in government that I have access to on this project and they have always assured me that the project would kick off soon. My private findings proved that the “Reclamation of Onyah town” is number 496 of Delta state 2016 budget of NDDC. The total sum budgeted for the project is N1.5 billion naira while the sum of N225 million naira was approved for the 2016 budget.
“This my appeal became necessary due to the fact that it is during the raining season that the erosion usually occur in Onyah my hometown. The early award of this contract, especially before the raining season will save my people from their annual ugly experience of the erosion. This present NDDC board have started awarding contracts and calling for “invitation to tender” for various projects in the 2016 budget but surprisingly the project for Onyah has been missing in all of these.”
Ogiriki stated.
According to Mr. Ogiriki, it is his greatest hope and desire that the NDDC board as lead by the MD, Mr. Nsima Ekere will listen to “my humble appeal and do the needful. I want to also use this medium to appeal to Senator Peter Nwaoboshi on behalf of Onyah town whom he represents to also ensure that this project is awarded before the raining season. We, the Onyah people know the role he played in the provision of this project in the 2016 NDDC budget.”
Mr. Ogiriki also appealed to the member representing the area in the state house of Assembly who doubles as the house deputy speaker, Mr. Friday Ossai Osanebi, “who was also instrumental in the inclusion of this project in the NDDC budget to also use his good office to come to the aid of Onyah town in this regard.”
Mr. Ogiriki also appealed to the Special Adviser to the Executive Director of Projects in NDDC, Mr. Olisa Charles to make good use of his office in speeding up the process of awarding the project that is dear to the heart of every indigenes of the community.
