The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the devastating erosion threatening Odi Kingdom in Bayelsa State following an earth tremor in 2025 that accelerated the destruction of homes, public infrastructure and farmlands.

The House warned that continued deterioration of the shoreline could lead to further displacement of residents and threaten the survival of the historic Ijaw community if comprehensive erosion control and environmental restoration measures are not implemented.

The call followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Oboku Abonsizibe Oforji, who drew attention to the worsening environmental crisis confronting Odi Kingdom, one of the oldest and largest Ijaw settlements in Bayelsa State.
Located along the River Nun, Odi Kingdom occupies a strategic position in the Niger Delta and holds considerable historical, cultural and economic significance for Bayelsa State and the wider region.

In the motion, the House recalled that the community suffered extensive destruction during the military invasion of 1999, after which residents painstakingly rebuilt their homes and livelihoods.

However, the community experienced a devastating earth tremor in 2025, alongside intensified shoreline erosion that accelerated the collapse of residential buildings, public infrastructure and farmlands.

The motion noted that the development had rendered several residents homeless and exposed the community to further environmental hazards, compounding the hardship faced by people who had struggled to rebuild their lives after the earlier destruction.

The lawmakers expressed concern that the erosion continued to consume portions of the community daily, threatening lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.

They warned that failure to take urgent remedial measures could result in further environmental degradation, widespread displacement and the possible extinction of Odi Kingdom.

The House also expressed concern over the absence of a comprehensive intervention by relevant Federal Government agencies to address the environmental disaster, despite the scale of the reported destruction.

It noted that the crisis had implications beyond the immediate suffering of residents, with potential humanitarian, environmental and socio-economic consequences for Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta region.

Citing Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the motion stressed the responsibility of government to prioritise the security and welfare of the people, underscoring the need to protect affected residents and their property.

Consequently, the House urged the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministries of Environment, Works, and Water Resources and Sanitation, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ecological Project Office and other relevant agencies, to conduct an emergency assessment of the erosion disaster.

It called on the agencies to jointly design and execute permanent shoreline protection, erosion control and land reclamation projects to halt further destruction and restore the affected environment.

The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to make adequate budgetary provisions for comprehensive erosion control, shoreline stabilisation and environmental restoration works in the community.

They said the proposed intervention was necessary to safeguard lives and property and preserve Odi Kingdom from further environmental devastation.

As part of efforts to ensure accountability and prompt action, 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 the affected community.

The committees are expected to report back to the House within four weeks with recommendations for immediate legislative action.

The proposed assessment is expected to establish the extent of the damage and identify the interventions required from the Federal Government and relevant agencies to address the crisis.

For residents of Odi Kingdom, the call for urgent intervention comes amid growing concerns that continued shoreline erosion could further undermine the community’s homes, livelihoods and their future.