Bayelsa Communities Face Flooding Risks Amid Rising Water Levels

Residents in Bayelsa State are facing increased concerns as continuous heavy rainfall has driven water levels higher, impacting several communities across the region. While the floods have not yet reached the intensity of the severe flooding experienced in 2022, communities like Amassoma, Biseni, Anibeze, and Akenpai are already affected.

Walson Omuso, the Head of the Flood and Erosion Control Directorate, assured residents that floodwaters are expected to recede in the coming days. He noted that while complete prevention of flooding is impossible due to natural rainfall, ongoing mitigation efforts are in place to lessen its impact.

“We anticipate water levels will drop in three to four days,” Omuso explained. “Rain accompanied by thunder is usually a sign of impending recession. While we cannot stop the flooding caused by rain, our focus remains on prevention and water channel management.”

In Akenpai, Yenagoa, local resident Amos Aherhoke shared that his elevated floor has kept his home from being fully overtaken by floodwater. “I still have to roll up my trousers every time I leave or return home,” he added, describing the inconveniences brought by the rising waters.

Farmers in the area are also being forced to adapt. Joshua Odoko, a cassava farmer in Anibeze, Sagbama Local Government Area, has started an early harvest to prevent crop losses. Similarly, another farmer in the region, hoping to sell his potatoes at a better price, now faces pressure to harvest early due to the rising waters.

The impact of the flooding has been shared on social media by Comrade Alagoa Morris, Deputy Executive Director of the Environmental Defenders Network, who highlighted the situation in Biseni, Yenagoa Local Government Area. In Obogoro, located along the Yenagoa-Oporoma road, residents have built temporary wooden bridges to reach their homes as the water continues to rise.

With many farmers still awaiting harvest, concerns remain high across Bayelsa’s affected communities as they monitor the evolving situation.