‎BY AHMED AKANBI

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‎The Senate has urged the Federal Government to urgently provide shoreline protection to save Obogoro community in Bayelsa State from extinction.

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‎This followed a motion titled “Urgent need to save Obogoro community from extinction” sponsored by Senator Benson Kombowei (APC Bayelsa Central).

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‎Leading debate, Kombowei said land is central to a people’s identity, livelihood, culture and communal existence.

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‎He warned that Obogoro faces the danger of losing its ancestral land to decades-long aggressive erosion.

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‎According to him, the erosion has led to loss of lives, property and means of livelihood.

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‎He said about 300 residents were recently rendered homeless, while public primary school buildings, field, youth corps lodge and playground were washed away and several persons drowned.

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‎Kombowei said the community had petitioned the National Assembly and oil firms operating in the area for help without success.

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‎”The people of Obogoro community feel neglected and abandoned, and left to confront their life-threatening challenge,” Kombowei said.

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‎He added that the situation worsens during annual floods when rising rivers eat up land and shrink the community.

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‎The Senate, in its resolution, urged NEMA to provide relief materials to victims and called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene with shoreline protection.