Bayelsa State Government has indicated its readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government and other relevant agencies to tackle flooding and its attendant consequences in the State.
Governor Seriake Dickson gave the indication when the Presidential Committee on the Assessment of Flood Disaster Affected Areas paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Yenagoa.
Describing the current flood disaster as tragic, Governor Dickson listed Bayelsa as one of the most affected states in the country due to its vulnerable environment.
He said the flood has wreaked further damage to the already fragile ecology of the State, stressing that farmlands and other valuable property have been destroyed with so many people rendered homeless.
According to him, most people have been forced to take refuge in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Governor Dickson however, pointed out that the situation would have been worse if his administration had not taken proactive steps to clear and construct drainages in the Yenagoa metropolis
The Governor, who expressed fear over imminent famine in the country, stressed the need for all tiers of government and relevant bodies to collaborate effectively with the aim of mitigating the effects of flooding, particularly acute shortage of food.
On the part of the state government, he said a special committee has been set up to provide immediate relief to affected communities.
According to Governor Dickson, his visit to some of the affected communities in four local government areas of the State revealed that the committee was working as it was seen distributing relief materials.
While thanking President Goodluck Jonathan and the Committee for the proactive measures taken so far, Hon. Dickson urged the committee and other relevant authorities to redouble their efforts at cushioning the effects of the flood disaster.
Earlier in her remarks, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on the Assessment of Flood Disaster Affected Areas and Minister of Environment, Hajia Hadiza Mailafia explained that the visit was to assess the extent of flooding in the state.
According to the Environment Minister, the inter-ministerial committee was set up consequent upon the rains and flooding experienced across the country with the mandate to proffer immediate, medium and long-term solutions to the menace.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda and his water resources counterpart, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe commiserated with the government and people of the state over the flooding incident.
While commending the Dickson-led administration for the steps it has taken to ameliorate the sufferings of flood victims, the Ministers called on the state government to partner with other relevant authorities to enlighten its people on the need to observe sanitation and development control rules and regulations.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammed Sani Sidi stated that the agency promptly responded to the distress call by its officials about the flooding situation in the state and have started distributing relief materials to affected communities.
Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State
03/10/2012
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