… Abandon cars on nearby streets; beg Gov Diri to address challenges

By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

Makeshift wooden bridges, commonly known as Monkey Bridges, have resurfaced in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, as the rain has swamped most parts of the city.

For a state with the longest coastline in the country, measuring approximately 800 miles and lying below sea level, the near absence of a functional drainage system in the capital city has further compounded the woes of residents.

NDV findings revealed that some unlucky residents in areas yet to benefit from the flurry of concrete roads being constructed by the state government in the state capital are pooling resources to construct monkey bridges to access their homes to avoid the swampy and muddy roads.

Worst hit areas

A trip around the state capital revealed the plight of residents in the areas where internal roads were constructed without functional drainages. The result is that when there is heavy rain, the excess water submerges their homes.

Also, some residents are forced to abandon their cars on the stable part of the roads far away from their homes where petty thieves sometimes steal their car batteries and other accessories.
Most affected are Akenfa, Etewge, Okutuku, Edepie, Yenizue-Gene, Ekeki, Boigbolo, Ovom, Azikoro, Amarata and Kpansia areas.

The state capital is blessed with several canals that could have served as natural drains under heavy rain, however, land developers and residents, who turned them into dumping sites for household wastes have blocked these natural outlets for excess water.

The recent deluge experienced in the state has left most parts of Yenagoa flooded with some homes submerged, causing the occupants to construct makeshift wooden bridges to reach their homes

Eddy, a resident blames govt

Lamenting their ordeal, a resident of Biogbolo, identified as Eddy said: “Before now, when it rained, the water drained away, but since the roads were constructed, things have changed because the non-provision of culverts at road intercessions has left the water trapped.”

Another inhabitant slams govt

Another resident, who spoke anonymously, described the flood menace as man-made, pointing at the lukewarm attitude of the government to unfriendly environmental practices of residents, and some unscrupulous land developers, who build structures on water channels, thereby preventing the free flow of excess water from the city after rainfall.

They did not sand-fill our area – Tari, occupant

An Edepie dweller, Ebiowei Tari, said: “Ours is a low-lying area which ordinarily should have been sand-filled up to the level of the Edepie-Imiringi road, but we do not have the resources to do that.”

We are at the receiving end every rainy season — Ebikabowei, inhabitant

Also speaking, Mrs. Perere Ebikabowei painted a bleak picture, saying: “We are always at the receiving end every rainy season. As you can see, we have no choice but to construct a monkey bridge to access our homes instead of wading through the pool of water.”

She pleaded with the government to take measures to address the problem faced by residents in the flood-prone areas.

Dorgu inspects troubled areas

Meanwhile, the State Physical Planning and Development Board has declared the state government’s readiness to improve and upgrade settlements in Yenagoa.

The executive chairman, Kuroakegha Dorgu, stated this during an on-the-spot assessment of blighted areas within the state capital.

Dorgu, in a statement issued by the board’s head of Public Relations unit, Mr. Stanley Imgbi, said the board desired to ensure the improvement of settlements in the state capital in line with the aspiration of the governor, achieve a well-planned residential neighbourhood that befits a state capital.