Reps Urge Tinubu to Save Bayelsa's Odi Kingdom from Devastating Erosion

The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in Odi Kingdom, Bayelsa State, as severe shoreline erosion threatens homes, farmland and critical infrastructure in the historic Ijaw community. The lawmakers urged the government to provide adequate funding for erosion control, shoreline protection and land reclamation projects, warning that continued destruction could threaten the community's long-term survival. The call followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Oboku Oforji during plenary on Tuesday. According to the motion, Odi Kingdom has experienced intensified shoreline erosion since an earth tremor reportedly struck the community in 2025, worsening the destruction of buildings and other essential assets. The lawmakers said the environmental crisis had left residents vulnerable to displacement, poverty and further hardship, calling for immediate action to prevent additional damage. ### Reps Demand Emergency Assessment The House urged relevant federal agencies to assess the affected areas and develop lasting solutions to the erosion problem. Among the agencies identified were the Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Niger Delta Development Commission and Ecological Project Office. The lawmakers called for permanent shoreline protection, erosion control and land reclamation projects, alongside adequate budgetary provisions for environmental restoration and shoreline stabilisation. They expressed concern that comprehensive intervention had yet to match the scale of the reported destruction. Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated its committees on Environment, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Ecological Funds, and the Niger Delta Development Commission to conduct a joint on-the-spot assessment of Odi Kingdom. The committees are expected to report back within four weeks with recommendations for further legislative action. The proposed assessment is intended to establish the extent of the damage and identify the interventions required to protect residents, homes, farmland and public infrastructure. ### Historic Ijaw Community Faces Fresh Threat Odi Kingdom is one of the historic Ijaw settlements in Bayelsa State. Its residents have previously endured significant destruction, particularly during the November 1999 military invasion, which devastated much of the community. Residents subsequently rebuilt their homes and livelihoods, but the latest erosion crisis has raised fresh concerns about the security of the community and its future. The lawmakers warned that continued loss of land could deepen existing humanitarian and socioeconomic challenges in Bayelsa State and the wider Niger Delta. They 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. The provision, they argued, reinforces the need for authorities to take measures to protect residents whose lives and property are threatened by environmental destruction. ### Calls for Federal Intervention Renewed The latest resolution adds to longstanding concerns about shoreline erosion and the need for sustained environmental protection in vulnerable Niger Delta communities. In July 2023, the Niger Delta Development Commission announced plans to begin the procurement process for a shoreline protection and erosion control project in Odi following an inspection of erosion-affected areas. The renewed appeal by lawmakers raises questions about the progress of previous intervention plans and the need to ensure that proposed projects translate into effective protection for residents. For communities facing continuing land loss, emergency assessments and legislative resolutions are important steps, but lasting relief will depend on the implementation and funding of appropriate erosion-control measures. The House's latest action places the issue before relevant committees and federal agencies, with the four-week reporting deadline expected to provide a basis for further legislative consideration. Until effective protection measures are implemented, Odi Kingdom remains exposed to the environmental threat described by lawmakers as a danger to the community's continued existence.