Akwa Ibom Community raises concerns over ongoing sea encroachment, calls for shoreline protection

The community of Okoro-Utip, situated in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, is facing an imminent threat of coastal erosion caused by rising sea and river levels.

This recurring coastal erosion has resulted in the loss of ancestral lands and displacement of numerous families in the region.

Concerned residents have expressed their grievances during a three-day Cycles of Reflection meeting held at the Okoro-Utip Community Hall, organized by the Health Of Mother Earth Foundation, an organization dedicated to environmental and climate justice.

Chief Enyinna Wilson, the Secretary of the Okoro-Utip village council, emphasized that the community’s primary need is the construction of an embankment to counteract the encroachment.

He lamented that previous appeals to government agencies had not yielded positive results, leaving the community in a state of perpetual fear due to the encroachment.

Elizabeth Ifum highlighted the disproportionate impact on women due to ocean surges and emphasized the urgency for government intervention in building an embankment to safeguard their land from erosion.

Rhoda Peter, a community worker, called on the government to establish a housing estate to provide shelter for those who lost their homes to erosion.

Residents complained about the difficulty of obtaining clean drinking water due to oil spills from multinational companies, which had also contaminated their rivers.

They stressed the need for essential facilities such as secondary schools, markets, and hospitals, which are currently lacking in the community.

In response, Stephen Oduware, the Project Lead of HOMEF, encouraged the community to establish a Community Development Committee (CDC) to prioritize their concerns and address them through appropriate channels.

Comrade Umoh Isuah-Ikoh, the Coordinator of Peace Point Development Foundation, urged the community to take ownership of their surroundings and ensure their protection.

The community members were called upon to unite and take action, rather than solely lamenting their predicament.