Mirian Gom 
YENAGOA, Nigeria – Bayelsa State has launched a large-scale flood control campaign across Yenagoa and surrounding communities as authorities move to mitigate the impact of the 2026 rainy season in one of Nigeria’s most flood-prone states.
The desilting exercise, spearheaded by the State Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control, targets canals, creeks and waterways frequently clogged by silt and waste, which officials say exacerbate annual flooding.
The first phase of the operation began on Wednesday at the St. Peter’s–Obele Canal and the Osiri Road canal near Tower Hotel in Yenagoa.
“The desilting exercise is aimed at improving the free flow of water through existing canals and drainage channels in order to reduce the risk of flooding during the peak of the rainy season,” the Directorate said in a statement.
Additional equipment has been deployed to waterways across the state capital and neighbouring communities to accelerate the exercise before rainfall intensifies.
“Additional machines are being mobilised to various locations to accelerate the flood mitigation exercise and ensure that critical water channels are cleared before the rains intensify,” the statement added.
Bayelsa, a low-lying Niger Delta state, experiences severe flooding almost every year, with thousands of residents often displaced and livelihoods disrupted.
Officials say the ongoing flood control measures align with Governor Douye Diri’s commitment to reducing perennial flood risks and protecting lives and property.
The Directorate also warned residents against dumping refuse into drainage channels, identifying St. Peter’s and Obele canals, Goodnews Canal in Azikoro Town and Akenpai Canal as areas of concern.
“We strongly advise residents to desist from dumping waste into canals and waterways. Such actions obstruct the free flow of water and contribute significantly to flooding,” it warned.
About the Author
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 