By Mardiyyah Abubakar
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene to save the historic riverine community of Forcados in Delta State from extinction, warning that years of coastal erosion and neglect are threatening one of Nigeria’s oldest colonial settlements.
Speaking at a news briefing, IYC spokesman, Ambassador Binebai Princewill, described Forcados in Burutu Local Government Area as a key administrative and commercial hub in Nigeria’s early history. He said the community served as a major maritime gateway connecting the Niger Delta with Europe and the Atlantic world long before the 1914 amalgamation.
The council warned that the collapse of the centuries-old seawall has left the community vulnerable to severe coastal erosion, endangering homes, livelihoods and priceless historical monuments.
According to the IYC, Forcados is home to several heritage sites, including the historic Forcados Windmill, Slave Wharf, Slave Dungeon, colonial warehouses, dockyards, cemeteries, the old seawall and the Forcados Infectious Diseases Hospital, many of which have deteriorated after decades of neglect.
The group also lamented the poor state of infrastructure in the oil-producing community, saying residents continue to grapple with inadequate healthcare, lack of potable water, unreliable electricity and insufficient shoreline protection despite the area’s significant contribution to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The IYC urged President Tinubu to declare the revival of Forcados a national priority through comprehensive shoreline protection, land reclamation, restoration of historical monuments and critical infrastructure development.
It further appealed to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), NNPC Limited, the Delta State Government and other relevant agencies to collaborate in preserving the historic community.
The council maintained that restoring Forcados is not only about infrastructure but also about protecting a vital part of Nigeria’s heritage, boosting tourism and preserving a site of both national and international historical significance.
