TRAGIC!! Six Houses Submerged By Atlantic Ocean

Six houses in Iwuo Okpom community, Ibeno Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, have been submerged by the Atlantic Ocean.

Village Head of Iwuo Okpom, Mr. Okon Akpanowong, told our correspondent in Ibeno on Monday, that the surge from the ocean also affected the residents.

He stated that no fewer than 1,000 people had been displaced in the area, adding that the ocean had caused hardship to the community.

Akpanowong noted that the shore protection contract awarded by the Federal Government to check the surge problem had failed.

He stated that the contract was awarded in 1992 to a construction company and in 2006 to an engineering firm.

He said, “When the Atlantic Ocean encroaches, it overflows and submerges people’s houses. So far, six houses have been submerged by the ocean’s overflow.

“The contractors handling the shore protection contract in Iwuo Okpom are not able to satisfactorily carry out the contract. After collecting mobilisation fees, some of the contractors refuse to show up here.”

Akpanowong appealed to the Federal Government to come to their aid, saying that socio-economic activities in the area had been affected.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Iwuo Okpom Village Council, Chief John Etim, noted that the flood had eroded many acres of land within the community, describing the situation as unfortunate.

He appealed to both the State and Federal governments to re-award the contract to a reputable contractor, or in the alternative, make the contractors handling the shore protection project to urgently revisit it.

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