Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has expressed concern about the potential submergence of coastal communities within the state due to the encroachment of the Atlantic Ocean. Diri sounded the alarm on Tuesday during his visit to the Odioama community in the Brass Council to evaluate the extent of damage caused by ocean erosion.

In an official statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the governor conveyed his distress over the adverse impacts of coastal erosion on settlements along the Atlantic Ocean's banks. Diri communicated that he took this trip to the community after dispatching a team to assess the situation and gather first-hand information about the challenges faced by the people.

During his address at the community town hall, Governor Diri, accompanied by notable figures such as the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange, commissioners, and other government officials, assured the community of the state government's commitment to implementing a 1.5km shore protection initiative. This effort is intended to counteract the ocean surge that has led to the submersion of around 250 buildings over the past decade.

Governor Diri announced that the state government would initiate the shoreline project while waiting for collaboration from the Federal Government. He acknowledged, however, that addressing challenges similar to those faced by Odioama, Koluama, Sangana, Agge, and other threatened communities extends beyond the state government's capacity.

Advocating for the Federal Government's intervention and support for the shore protection project, Diri emphasized that the state's significant contributions to the nation's economic welfare should be reciprocated. He stated that his visit was motivated not by political campaigning but by the need to comprehend the plight of the Odioama people and witness the community's situation firsthand.

Diri expressed his concern over the erosion's impact on housing, revealing that he had personally seen houses succumbing to the ocean surge. Even the community's cemetery was under threat due to the ongoing encroachment.

Governor Diri pledged to present the findings and recommendations from the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure's engineers during the state executive council meeting, acknowledging that the project's cost could be formidable and go beyond the state government's capacity.

In response to the community's requests, Diri instructed the Commissioner for Water Resources to initiate a water project in the community and directed his counterpart in the Lands and Housing department to oversee the construction of a pavilion.