By Our Correspondent
National News – The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has officially handed over the sites for emergency land reclamation and shoreline protection projects in the Onuebum and Ayakoro communities in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The ceremony took place on Saturday at the Ayakoro Community Town Hall, where NDDC representatives formally presented the contractor to the host communities and urged residents to support the execution of the projects.
The handover was conducted by the NDDC Director of the Bayelsa State Office, Godknows Alamieyeseigha, who explained that the shoreline protection initiative aims to reclaim threatened land and safeguard community infrastructure.
According to him, the project demonstrates the commission’s commitment to improving the welfare of residents in riverine communities vulnerable to erosion and shoreline collapse.
Alamieyeseigha stressed that the formal handover allows communities to take ownership of the projects and monitor their implementation.
He encouraged residents to report any irregularities during the construction phase and cooperate fully with the contractor to ensure timely completion.
Speaking at the event, the NDDC Deputy Director for Community and Rural Development, Diete Amiefamonyo, explained that the project handover ceremony was introduced to prevent interference from other development agencies that previously disrupted NDDC projects.
He said the new approach promotes transparency and community participation.
Amiefamonyo urged youth groups, community development committees, and women leaders to maintain unity and support the contractor during the construction process.
He also reminded contractors to respect local customs and traditions while executing projects within host communities.
Providing technical insight into the project, consultant Henry Okolie said the shorelines along the riverbanks in the affected communities had been collapsing due to erosion.
He explained that the technology deployed for the reclamation project would help stabilise the shoreline, reclaim additional land, and protect critical road infrastructure currently under development.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Acting Paramount Ruler of Ayakoro Community, Chief Micah Itesi, assured NDDC officials that residents of Ayakoro and Onuebum would cooperate fully with the contractor.
He said the communities were committed to ensuring the projects are completed quickly to protect their environment and improve local development.
The shoreline protection initiative forms part of the NDDC’s broader effort to address environmental challenges and infrastructure threats affecting communities across the Niger Delta region.
