David Giant Isiayi, the 90-year old traditional ruler of Agge community in Ekeremor local government area of Bayelsa State, two days ago led indigenes of the community in a peaceful protest against the alleged abandonment of a N4 billion shore protection contract awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
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The contract, which was awarded to an indigenous contractor known as Beks Kimse Nigeria Ltd, is meant to sand fill and reclaim more than 1.8 kilometers of communal land washed away by surging ocean.
The traditional ruler and outraged indigenes of the community, the chairman of the Community Development Committee, Steven Fiopare, accused the contractor of illegally subletting the contract to Kameala Consult Service Company and abandoning the contract site on the alleged excuse that the NDDC had failed to pay mobilization fees.
Members of the Agge community stated that they had been peacefully disposed to the contractor whose job is to work to save the community from extinction by the rampaging ocean. According to some of the protesters, the contractor attempted to move equipment away from site, but indigenes of the community blocked the move.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “JTF Should Not Be Used,” “Don't Intimidate Agge People,” “NDDC, Beks, Kariala: Come and Finish the Job You Were Paid For!” and “Agge Project Money Should Not Be Used For Politics.”
The community vowed not to release the contractor’s heavy-duty equipment unless the NDDC assured them of the completion of the job.
“The situation in Agge is threatening our existence as a people,” the traditional ruler said in an interview. “The ocean has claimed half of our homes and people. The deceit and failure of the company awarded the contract to do the job is a shameful act. We don't want to die. We only want the contract awarded completed,” he added.
The chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Mr. Fiopare, said the community had lost people and houses to the ocean surge for years. He added that the initial dredging work done by the contractor had worsened the problem of the community, causing incessant erosion.
“We are in a big problem. Houses are being washed away daily by erosion. If the high tide comes, many indigenes will disappear and homes washed away,” he said.
The construction company, Beks Kimse Nigeria Ltd. is reportedly owned by the son of an ally of President Goodluck Jonathan, Prof Kimse Okoko. A community source told Saharareporters that after the NDDC paid for the construction, the monies were routed to President Jonathan's campaign for the recently concluded 2015 election.