The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has lamented the destruction of property and the hardship suffered by the people of the state due to flooding.
He called on the Federal Government to come to the aid of the state as the present situation was beyond the resources of the state government, as he restated his call for the construction of a dam around the River Niger.
Diri, on Thursday, undertook an on-the-spot assessment of the flood situation in some communities and described it as very dire, a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said.
The governor was accompanied by the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Solomon Agwana; the Commissioner for Environment and chairman of the Task Force on Flood Mitigation and Management, Eselema Gbaranbiri; his Works and Information counterpart; Moses Teibowei, as well as other top government functionaries.
He made stops at Tungbo, Sagbama town and Adagbabiri, all in the Sagbama Local Government Area, and also visited Odi and Kaiama communities in the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.
While addressing the people in the Izon dialect, Diri said he wanted to get first-hand knowledge of what the people and the communities were going through.
He encouraged them not to despair, even as he acknowledged that it was a trying period for everyone.
Diri presented cash gifts to the affected communities and assured them that relief materials would immediately get to them through the task force on flooding.
He called on Bayelsans to look out for one another and accommodate victims, as homes and communities were being sacked.
The governor said, “Roads have been overtaken by flood, houses submerged and the people are now internally displaced. We have sought out some high grounds where some of them will be resettled temporarily. We have also made palliative and medicines available.
“I came out in order to comfort the people so that they will know that their government stands with them in their time of trouble.
“Water has no respect for anybody as my house is also flooded in my community. So, everybody should be strong and careful during this period, particularly women. Your children should not go into the water. It is a very tempting period, but I know God will see us through.
“I have approved N450 million to provide succour for the people, which is the first tranche. Having seen things for myself, we will approve more money so our people can have something to eat while they go through this experience.”
Diri also said he would consider inviting state governors in the low areas of the country to brainstorm on a lasting solution to the perennial flooding affecting the people along river lines.
In separate responses, the member representing Sagbama Constituency 3 in the House of Assembly, Salo Adikumo; the Amananaowei of the Sagbama community; and the Community Development Committee chairman of Adagbabiri community, Mr. Oyinke Ekiye, expressed their profound gratitude to the governor for his magnanimity towards them.
