The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Landslide

  • NDDC will solve landslide in Delta village

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will solve the landslide that occurred in Tuomo community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta.

    NDDC commissioner in Warri Mr Ogaga Ifowodo spoke yesterday in Warri when he led a delegation to inspect the site.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a portion of the shoreline protection project in Tuomo collapsed on March 18 due to landslide.

    However, no life or property was lost in the incident.

    Ifowodo said  immediate solution would protect houses already endangered.

    According to him, a lasting solution may involve conducting a deep soil investigation to understand the soil formation and quality of the underlying layers of soil.

    “The first step now is to look for immediate solution to protect those houses that are really endangered by the landslide.

    “A more lasting solution is to look for the root cause of the problem, because failure have happened in two places along the shoreline.

    “So, we need to identify what is responsible for the failure; we may need to do deep soil investigation to understand the soil formation.

    “How soon, I cannot say for now, because we are just coming from inspection. We need to get back to the office and do our report,’’ he said.

    Ifowodo said the commission had two projects – shoreline protection and concrete pavement along that shoreline.

    He said: “We don’t want both projects to be endangered.

    “If we do not take immediate step, we are also exposing ourselves to greater cost of finally remediating the situation because a stitch in time saves nine.”

    Ifowodo appealed the community to be patient as NDDC will address the situation.

    Also, Mr Dada Bamidele, Civil/Operations manager of Vibroflotation and Geotechnical Nigeria Ltd., said the contracting firm would proffer  an engineering solution to the challenge.

    “Landslide is a natural phenomenon; there are some geographical formation within the soil that may not be obvious within the surface that is responsible for the disaster.

    “No one pray for this kind of a thing, if you do a job anywhere, you will be glad to see your work stand overtime and serve its purpose,” Bamidele said.

    He urged the community to cooperate to ensure that whatever solution proposed would be beneficial to all.

    An opinion leader in Tuomo, Mr Ebikoro Tabekaemi, blamed the situation on poor job by the contractor.

    “The other portion of the project failed about two years ago and now this place, the contractor is not serious with the job, that is the truth,” he said.

  • NDDC ’ll proffer immediate solution to landslide in Tuomo – Official

    The Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) says it will proffer immediate solution to the recent landslide that occurred in Tuomo Community, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta.

    Mr Ogaga Ifowodo, the Commissioner, Warri Office of NDDC, made the assertion on Wednesday in Warri when he led a delegation on an inspection visit to the site.

    A portion of the shoreline protection project in Tuomo Community collapsed on March 18 due to landslide, but no life or property was lost to the incident.

    Ifowodo said that immediate solution was necessary to protect those houses that were already endangered, while waiting for the long lasting solution.

    According to him, the long lasting solution may involve the conduct of a deep soil investigation to understand the soil formation and quality of the underlying layers of soil.

    “The first step now is to look for immediate solution to protect those houses that are really endangered by the landslide.

    “A more lasting solution is to look for the root cause of the problem, because failure have happened in two places along the shoreline.

    “So, we need to identify what is responsible for the failure; we may need to do deep soil investigation to understand the soil formation.

    “How soon, I cannot say for now, because we are just coming from inspection. We need to get back to the office and do our report,’’ he said.

    Ifowodo said that the commission had two projects- shoreline protection and concrete pavement along that shoreline.

    He said: “We don’t want both projects to be endangered.

    “If we do not take immediate step, we are also exposing ourselves to greater cost of finally remediating the situation because a stitch in time saves nine.”

    Ifowodo appealed to people of the affected community to be patient as urgent step would be taken to address the situation.

    Also, Mr Dada Bamidele, the Civil/Operations Manager of Vibroflotation and Geotechnical Nigeria Ltd., said that contracting firm had described the project as an engineering challenge that require engineering solution.

    “Landslide is a natural phenomenon; there are some geographical formation within the soil that may not be obvious within the surface that is responsible for the disaster.

    “No one pray for this kind of a thing, if you do a job anywhere, you will be glad to see your work stand overtime and serve its purpose,” Bamidele said.

    He urged the community to be more cooperative to ensure that whatever solution proposed would be beneficial to all of them.

    An opinion leader in Tuomo Community, Mr Ebikoro Tabekaemi, blamed the situation on poor job done by the contractor.

    “The other portion of the project failed about two years ago and now this place, the contractor is not serious with the job, that is the truth,” he said.

    NAN

  • Flood, landslide claims 800 lives in Sierra Leone

    Flood, landslide claims 800 lives in Sierra Leone

    …About 150 victims below 10 years

     

    Tragedy struck in the Sierra Leonean capital of Freetown Monday.

    What started as an early morning blessing in form of rain led to flood and landslide, leaving in their wake death and destruction.

    The area affected is Regent, a highbrow area of the city.

    According to an eye witness, Mr. Ammar Kamara, an aid worker in Freetown, the city is grappling with this new tragedy as little has so far been put in place for displaced survivors.

    He said: ‘The flood happened this morning. It started with a heavy rainfall around 2am. This led to the landslide which occurred between 6am and 7am.

    “From the my visit to the main mortuary unit inside Connaught Hospital, most of the victims are women, particularly young girls and I can confirm over 150 children under the age of 10 years lost their lives.

    “It happened in the highbrow residential area where the affluent live. The hospitals are overstretched and the coordination from the medical team is insufficient. The death toll is going to rise.”

    He said medical and aid workers are currently battling to save lives and give care to the displaced, wounded and traumatized.

     

  • ‘Obaseki ‘ll win by landslide’

    The governorship election in Edo state is just few weeks away from now the big question is: what are the options before Edolites? From all indications, everybody knows where the pendulum will swing to. And that is the election of  Godwin Obaseki.

    The choice is therefore, before Edo residents as the survey shows that Obaseki will win the election by a landslide election. Edolites are no pushovers. They cannot be deceived. They are not blind. They have realized that giving Obaseki the first four year team will transform the state into another Dubai after Oshiomhole.

    A new Edo with modern infrastructure, good roads, finer environment, good hospitals stocked with equipment and potable water and good learning environment is guaranteed.

    Edo under “OshioBaba  has become the envy of all. It is a reference point for foreigners and even those who know what governance is.

    Governor Oshiomhole in eight years has made us to believe that Edo can work and it is working. Go to Ring road and see the difference. Is it sapele road or Airport road that has not been transformed? People now obey traffic lights because of the fear of Comrade Osakpamwan Eriyo, the State Chairman Road Employee Transport Association of Nigeria.

    Many roads have been rehabilitated. New ones have been constructed and commissioned. Water flows thus reducing epidemic in the city. Healthcare especially for the people have been given top priority. In the area of transportation the Comrade bus is a success story which Obaseki will build upon in his first four years in office.

    These are the giant strides Obaseki as the man behind Oshiomhole’s success has accomplished in just eight years. Come to think of it, are there other contestants in Edo State? We are not hearing about them. Mr Paul Obazee Party Secretary ward 12, Oredo LGA recently said that PDP should forget about Edo because of the massive progress made by Oshiomhole and its team. Truth is bitter, but it must be said. The Lagos State governor Ambode said as the campaign chairman I am personally taking responsibility to ensure that beyond the campaign and the success of the election, a major commerce and economic relationship commence immediately with the in-coming governor, and also to let us actually start to have bilateral economic and political relations that will be of benefit to the people of Edo state, and then to the improvement of the economic growth of Edo state”.

    Oshiomole introduced the governorship candidate Mr Godwin Obaseki and his running mate Mr Philip Shaibu to governor Ambode and said “we have a candidate messenger that we you are going to be able to help us to market, and we also have a compelling message to put across to Edo people. And we believe the election will be won on the basis of the pedigree of the political parties, the pedigree of the individual and what the two parties have to show to the people”

    The Commissioner for Works, Mr. Osaradion Ogie who is also the DG of Godwin Obaseki campaign Organization said “we must be courageous and determined to achieve the goals we want for our people. I therefore stand before you today, on the shoulders of the success built by the current administration over the last seven and half years. We have transformed Edo state in all aspects. Pastor Izeiyamu of PDP is no match for Obaseki. APC is waxing strong. Obaseki desire to change Edo will be seen in his First term. The man means well for Edo. At this stage of our development in Edo State we need a man like Obaseki to take it to greater heights.

    Edo of all calling, tribes, religion know that he is the best man for the job. He has been tested and proved to be the best. My advice is that you should shine your eyes, vote wisely and for the right man, and that is Obaseki. Edo cannot afford to fall into the hands of mediocres, charlatans.

    Edo people should resist rigging and vote with their conscience for the person who been part of Oshiomhole’s massive development of the state. There should be continuity in a peaceful Edo where security is even more guaranteed now than Abuja.

    • Ikhaghe is a public commentator and author of”The Wind of Change Across Edo State” yet to be published.
  • 58 bodies found in China landslide

    58 bodies found in China landslide

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    Local authorities said on Wednesday in Shenzhen, China, that 58 more bodies have been recovered from the Shenzhen landslide, 18 days after the accident.

    The authorities said in a statement that the command headquarters of the clearing operation put the total number missing at 77.

    It said of the 58 bodies found, 52 have been identified as among the missing, while workers on the scene are trying to confirm the identity of the other six.

    “Of 17 people hospitalised after the landslide, 10 have been discharged.’’

    Meanwhile, police has confirmed the arrest of 11 people for their roles in the landslide.

    Those arrested included a legal representative and a deputy general manager of a company that was in charge of the landfill, where a mountain of construction waste collapsed on Dec. 20, destroying 33 buildings in the Hengtaiyu industrial zone, Shenzhen city.

  • Okorotie: PDP’ll secure landslide victory

    A founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Publicity Secretary of the Bayelsa Elders Council (BEC), Chief Thompson Okorotie, spoke with MIKE ODIEGWU on the chances of the party in this week’s governorship election.

    How will you evaluate the chances of your party?

    I have not seen a governor work so hard. I accompanied him to most of the places, the governor not minding the fact that he is an incumbent, was personally marketing himself from one community to another. He went to an average of 15 communities in each of the local governments throughout the state. This ended only three days ago with our visit to Nembe Local Government. There is a way that we assess an election by the reaction of the people and by the reception of the people; the groudswell of support, the genuine expression of love for the governor was unmistaken; it was quite outstanding. And it is not just love for the sake of it. It is also based on performance in each local government area.

    Publications were distributed on what was done in each local government that are positively impacting on the people. They have had a chance of comparing the two major candidates. One was in the office before for five years and so is possible to compare as to what was done at that time and what has been done now. And almost everywhere, the people have come to the conclusion that the PDP is their party. Not just that it has been here doing things for 16 years, but also with the current governor who has exhibited uncommon courage in the way he has handled those that seemed to be untouchable. Now, when you put all these together and the fact that all prominent Bayelsans are backing the PDP, you can predict that the party will win the December 5 election.

    What are the projects the governor and the PDP are banking on for the second term mandate?

    Well, they are many, but I will take the one that cuts across the three senatorial districts: roads. Though they have not been completed, but they are major projects that connects the state; the wealth of Bayelsa State is in the ocean and the bulk of the communities are riverine. For a governor to undertake to do a road that normally  would have been done by the federal government is commendable. Let me take my local government as an example; as we speak, the biggest dredger is operating there and that was the road coming from Sagbama to Agge, but the first stage will stop at Ekeremor; that road has gone beyond Ofoni. After Ofoni, there  is only three communities before Ekeremor. But, for  the economic downturn, the schedule was for us to drive to Ekeremor in November. This is the dream of the people of that area. Now, if the governor is doing that why won’t they vote for him? You needed to see the reception at Ekeremor. It was a thug of war for the governor to pass, and everybody wants to touch him.

    One of the central roads is the one that connects the people of Southern Ijaw, particularly of Oporoma. The road  has gone to a place called Ayama. On the eastern  side, you know what has happened already, a road that goes to the community of one of the candidates, who he did not see any viability in it during his tenure. He once said, ‘what is  the purpose of doing a road like that? How will those people who are traditionally boat operators feel about the project? He didn’t think far enough because that road as it is now is bringing so much happiness to the Nembe people.

    Do you think the governor should depend on unfinished projects to secure second term votes?

    Why won’t he depend on them. He has to depend on them if you didn’t want to finish the project would you start it, the project is there and most of them are at the level of 70%-75% completion. Why would that not be the basis for people to vote so that they will be completed. You know how this  changes come about. If you have a  new person those things may not be the priority of that government and that’s what we are saying. It is the beauty of continuity and apart from that you have not taken into account that the economy has gone down. Thank God when the money was there he rushed to do all those things. So many of his projects are completed. So the few that are not completed will be completed the moment he gets there that is the point.

  • Community urges Fed Govt to tackle N3b landslide

    Community urges Fed Govt to tackle N3b landslide

    Community leaders of Isuochi in Ummunnochi Local Government Area of Abia State have lamented the landslide which has caused much havoc in the settlement, saying it will take over N3b to contain the menace.

    Speaking while conducting reporters round the affected areas the member representing Ummunneochi Constituency at the state House of Assembly, Prince Ikedi Ezekwesili said the landslide was caused by a road project whose contract was awarded by the Niger Delta Ministry.

    Ezekwesili said the community cannot handle the landslide on its own as it will require well over N3 billion to contain.

    The lawmaker  and called on the federal government to either order the contractor back to site of call on the federal ministry of environment to come to their aid.

    Ezekwesili said that the ay the construction company handled the road and drainage construction caused the landslide, adding that the company should come back to site to remedy the situation before more harm will be done to the community.

    He said, “If you look behind you will see the landslide, this landslide was occasioned by improper termination of drainage by the construction company that did this road, ENACO that did this Federal Road between Leru and Nkwoagu.

    It is quit disheartening, you can see it, we appreciated the gesture of the Federal government by giving us his road, but it is very unfortunate and little did we know that the company either they did not do proper Environmental Impact Assessment or they were ordinarily naïve or careless, they could not extend the drainage appropriately.

    If you move down there is a stream, so, if they have extended the drain down properly we would not have seen the landslide that we are seeing today. You can imagine that the length from here now to the road is not up to twenty steps if by the next rain or couple of rains,

    the road will be cut off”.

    Ezekwesili said that despite cutting the road, the Umunnochi Council Secretariat, Isuochi Model secondary school, the  Divisional Police headquarters, the Community’s Unity Square that is under construction and the 7.5MVA Isuochi power Station under the National Integrated

    Power Project (NIPP) are all under the threat of the encroaching landslide.

    He said: “This environment is clearly sandy environment and of cause, a construction company ought to have known the appropriate mechanism or technology or what to do regarding the trend.

    So what we are saying as a people is that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs should step up immediately to find something to do to stop further landslide and of cause the company, we are no longer pretending about our emotions if we don’t see them within one month from now, we will take other actions which may not stop at legal action”.

    Ezekwesili who is the Minority leader in the State House of Assembly regretted that the road project which should have been a source of joy to the community is now turning out to be a bad omen to his community.

    He said, “The project has come to destroy my community, there are over five communities that would be affected by this landslide, this communities may not last in the next five years from now if something urgent is not done about this ugly situation.

    They may not, five years may be  a long time, if this could happen within a space of two years of this road construction, it means that in the next two years it would have gone further and may wash away the five communities’ .

    In his own reaction the Vice president of Isuochi Development Union, Elder Sunday Ekeh, said that they have we have been crying over danger posed to the communities in these local government by landslide.

    Elder Ekeh recalled that last year the former Senator for Abia North senatorial District, Late Comrade Uche Chukwumereije had to take the photograph of the affected area to Abuja and nothing came out of it.

    He said, “We are crying aloud now because if the rain continues the way it has been raining now, the level of devastation that it would cause the community would be calamitous”.

  • Senate seeks solution to landslide in Abia

    Senate seeks solution to landslide in Abia

    The landslide in Isuikwuato and Arochukwu local government areas of Abia State was among major issues the Senate discussed yesterday.

    The senator representing Abia North, Mao Ohuabunwa, brought the matter to the Senate under a motion of urgent importance.

    Ohuabunwa recalled that on June 12, a landslide occurred in Isuikwuato and Arochukwu local government areas, both in Abia North Senatorial District.

    The senator said the landslide was caused by denudation and torrential rains.

    He said major roads connecting the communities to neighbouring towns had been in deplorable condition.

    The roads, Ohuabunwa said, has been cut off, making it impossible for commuters to get to their homes and other states.

    The senator said the affected local governments are boundary towns with Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Enugu states.

    He regretted that economic activities had worsened and farmers unable to convey their produce to markets.

    The lawmaker said he was concerned that because of the downpour, the residents of the affected communities had become homeless and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

    Ohuabunwa said most residents had migrated to neighbouring communities for refuge, thereby exposing them to untold hardship, poverty and socio-economic hazards.

    He said: “The situation is pathetic. The entire communities are in disarray. The people are scattered in their own areas. The challenge is on the Senate to immediately get the people resettled to give them a sense of belonging.”

    Ohuabunwa prayed the Senate to set up an ad hoc committee to visit the affected areas and commiserate with them.

    The senator also urged the Senate to prevail on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send materials to the victims.

    He advised his colleagues to mandate the Federal Emergency Road Management Agency (FERMA) to give the roads in the affected communities some palliative measures to enable residents access their homes and farms.

    Ohuabunwa also prayed the Senate to prevail on the Federal Ministry of Work to re-award the contract for the construction of Arochukwu-Ohafia and Isuikwuato roads.

    Enyinnaya Abaribe, who seconded the motion, noted that considering the enormity of the disaster, the economy of state and the country would be adversely affected.

    The senator said immediate action should be taken to tackle erosion and repair the roads in parts of the country.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said the same problem affected virtually all parts of the country.

    He said a consolidated motion on the subject should be tabled for discussion on how to tackle bad roads, erosion and other ecological disasters across the country.

  • PDP records landslide win

    PDP records landslide win

    Delta State Independent Elections Commission (DSIEC) Chairman Mr. Moses Ogbe has announced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of last Saturday’s council elections.

    The party won in 23 local government areas of the state’s 25 councils.

    The local government areas are Okpe, Udu, Ndokwa West, Aniocha South, Oshimili North, Warri South West, Ukwuani, Ughelli North and Oshimili South.

    Others are Warri South, Ika South, Bomadi, Warri North, Uvwie, Burutu, Ika North-East, Ughelli South, Ika South, Sapele, Aniocha North, Isoko North, Patani and Ethiope West local government areas.

    Elections for chairmanship position in Patani and Ethiope West were returned unopposed.

    About 96 councillorship positions on the platform of the ruling PDP across the 15 local government areas were returned unopposed.

    The commission, however, annulled election results for Ndokwa East Local Government Area, following large-scale irregularities.

    Polls were also inconclusive in Ethiope East as elections took place in 12 out of 20 wards in the area.

    Results for Isoko South local elections were still being awaited as at the time of filing this report.

     

  • Landslide threatens Okitipupa as rehabilitation begins

    Okitipupa, the capital of the ‘Ikales’ in Ondo State, is currently facing  natural hurdles capable of endangering the lives of its inhabitants. A landslide on a major road is threatening to cut the area into two, making vehicular traffic near impossible.The site is scaring but Ondo State government has assured the people in the area of government’s quick intervention to rehabilitate the landslide along the major road in the council headquarters.

    The disaster, which according to residents of the area occurred few days ago claimed a section of the Adeniran Estate area of the popular Broad Street, the major road in the local government.

    The Commissioner for Works, Gboye Adegbenro, who rushed to the site of the natural disaster in company with the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Eni Akinsola, member representing Okitipupa constituency 2 at the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Jumoke Akindele and Director in the Ministry of Works, said government would take drastic measures to prevent future occurrence.

    According to him, “this is not a road failure, it is a geophysical failure of an existing structure which means the road is sliding and it needs urgent attention because it is risky for road users.”

    He assured that the survey would be ready in 24hours, after which the government would come up with a design.

    Adegbenro said though the problem is a long term issue, but pointed out that the first 50-meters of the slide would be rehabilitated and sustained urgently so as to avoid total landslide and make the road passable for users.

    Akinsola, urged the people of the area to prevent heavy duty vehicles from plying the road until the road was fully rehabilitated in order to prevent total landslide.

    The member representing Okitipupa Constituency 2 at the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Akindele, also appreciated the swift intervention of the state government to the plight of her people.

    Governor Mimiko, who also visited the site said engineers were already surveying the damaged area, which affected the major road that links Okitipupa and Igbokoda.

    He assured residents that his administration would not allow the situation to degenerate, adding that their safety was a priority to the government.

    Mimiko urged residents to stay off the site because of its inherent danger.

    Some concerned residents in the area urged the state government to expedite action in rehabilitating the landslide to prevent loss of human lives.

    According to them, with the present development, there is an urgent need to take prompt action against the natural disaster, stressing that delay might be dangerous.

    At the weekend, it was learnt that rehabilitation works have started on the site, while the road has been cordoned off to traffic.

    The chairman of the Ondo State Asphalt Company (OSAC), that is handling the project, Engr. Kehinde Osikoya said work had commenced immediately after the visit of Governor Mimiko to the site.

    According to him, “What we met on ground was serious earth movement which can be described as landslide, it virtually cut the road into two and that is why the area has been cordoned off because it is very unsafe for motorists to use the road.

    “In the next two weeks, we would have gotten to a stage where the road will be re-opened and after then, we will begin the channel-isation to make the road motorable again.”