Bayelsa State Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control

BAYELSA GOVT PUSHES ON WITH PROVISION OF MORE HIGHERGROUNDS FOR FLOOD MITIGATION

The Director General of the Bayelsa State Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control, Surv. Wilson Omuso, has revealed that the State Government has expanded its provision of higher ground projects to three flood-prone communities in Ekeremor Local Government area, all aimed at mitigating flooding in the affected communities.

According to him, this was in addition to the higher ground project previously commenced and completed at Biseni in Yenagoa Local Government Area last year.

The Director General who made the disclosure during an inspection visit to Obirignene Community higherground site, on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, noted that aside Obirigbene, the same project was also ongoing in Angalaweigbene and Foutorugbene in Ekeremor Local Government Area in a bid to providing succour to residents during flooding.

According to Surv. Omuso, the initiative was a pilot scheme that would be tested during flooding to ascertain its effectiveness, and when successful, would be expanded and implemented on a larger scale.

The Director General said the Obrignene higher ground, covering about 70% of a hectare, was designed to be higher than the highest flood level, allowing space and tents to accommodate residents during peak flood periods.The higher ground project is being carried out through sand filling and land reclamation to ensure elevated and stable platforms for affected communities.

He noted that the ongoing projects, which commenced about a month ago, were executed within the limits of available state government resources, expressing confidence that they would be sufficient to provide relief to residents during flooding.

DIRECTORATE OF FLOOD AND EROSION CONTROL PARTNERS NOA FOR EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SENSITIZATION

The Bayelsa State Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control has partnered the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Bayelsa State Directorate, to enhance public awareness and sensitization on flood-related matters.

The partnership was formalized during a courtesy visit by the NOA state executive to the Directorate on Tuesday September 23, 2025 at its secretariat in Yenagoa.

Speaking, the Director General of Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control, Surv. Wilson Omuso, highlighted some of the key challenges encountered in their floood mitigation efforts in Yenagoa and its environs to include dumping of refuse in channels by residents, building on canals and allowing grasses to grow in them, pointing out that these activities impede successful exercise.

He averred that rainfall determines the volume of water in an area and that channels are designed to evacuate excess water., warning that when the channels are blocked by such activities, it result to flooding.

The Director General, who said flood mitigation is not just a state issue but a national and international concern that requires collaborative efforts, urged NOA to reorient the public to shun acts that exacerbate flooding..

Earlier, the State Director of National Orientation Agency, Bayelsa State Directorate, Mrs Olobio Grace, informed that the mandate of the NOA is to sensitize and enlighthen the public on government's activities, policies and programmes.

She disclosed that one of the core areas of focus in their ongoing sensitization programme was on flood mitigation, hence the visit and the need to collaborate with the Directorate to enhance public awareness and orientation on flood-related issues.

Akenfa by mechanic road

Traffic light Ekeki/ CBN canal

Sunrise at Igbogene JTF canal