The South-South Development Commission (SSDC) has delivered humanitarian relief materials to residents of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. The intervention, led by SSDC's Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ms Usoro Akpabio, aims to alleviate the hardship imposed on residents by the environmental crisis. The crisis has disrupted livelihoods, threatened food security, and affected access to safe drinking water.
The relief materials, comprising 86 categories of food and non-food items, include rice, beans, garri, noodles, cooking oil, mattresses, mosquito nets, wrappers, buckets, sanitary pads, and baby diapers. According to Akpabio, the intervention aligns with President Bola Tinubu's directive to the commission to provide relief to vulnerable communities and accelerate development across the six South-south states.
Akpabio described Bille as a significant economic hub in Rivers State and the South-south region, warning that the environmental emergency posed serious humanitarian and economic consequences. She conveyed the commission's assurance that Bille would not be abandoned, adding that their recovery remains a priority in the commission's developmental agenda.
The Executive Director, Social Services and Human Capital Development, Preye Aganaba, led the SSDC delegation to the affected community. The intervention complements the efforts of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Speaking on behalf of the Bille Council of Chiefs, its Chairman, Chief Bennett Okpoke, commended the SSDC for responding to the community's plight. However, he urged the federal and state governments to address the root cause of the crisis, which has had devastating effects on the community's water sources, livelihoods, and daily activities.
NEMA's Head of Operations for Bayelsa and Rivers States, Dr Chidi Ogundu, commended the SSDC for its swift intervention, saying the agency had approached the SSDC over the emergency. An Environmental Impact Assessment had been conducted, revealing significant adverse effects on the community. Ogundu described the situation as a collective responsibility, saying: "An injury to one is an injury to all."
The SSDC's response is part of its commitment to environmental protection, disaster resilience, sustainable infrastructure, and livelihood restoration across the region. The commission pledged to continue supporting the community, with NEMA's technical team commencing efforts to address the crisis and develop a lasting solution to the pollution.
Key points
- The SSDC provided 86 categories of food and non-food items to residents of Bille Kingdom.
- The intervention aims to alleviate the hardship imposed on residents by the environmental crisis.
- The crisis has disrupted livelihoods, threatened food security, and affected access to safe drinking water.
