BAYELSA PROMISES TO ASSIST FLOOD RAVAGED COMMUNITIES
He gave this assurance during an
on-the-spot assessment of affected communities in Yenagoa, Ogbia and Southern
Ijaw Local Government Areas of the state.
In Yenagoa LGA, the team visited
Agbura community which was heavily impacted by the flood.
In Ogbia, most communities visited
had been submerged by the flood. They include Ayakoro, Otuedu, Ayama, Otuobhi
and Ologoghe while Ologi was moderately impacted.
In Southern Ijaw, Ozezebiri,
Kainyabiri, Ofonibiri, Oporoma, Angiama and Amassoma communities were all
heavily flooded while Opuama, Pulo-Obubo, Ekowe, Oloma and Otuan were
moderately affected.
The commissioner urged victims of the
disaster in Agbura, Otuogori, Otuedu, Anyama and Ologoghe communities where
property worth millions of naira were destroyed not to despair as the
government is determined to bring succor to the affected communities.
Apaingolo called on those residing in
the coastal areas to take advantage of the internally displaced persons camps
and shelters provided by the state government within the local government area
and to keep faith with the restoration government in this trying moment.
He described the devastating
situation at Kainyanbiri, Ofonibiri, Otuebiri and some parts of Amassoma as
unfortunate and worrisome and that the government would send relief materials
to the people through the local government chairmen.
The commissioner frowned at the
federal government’s neglect of the Niger Delta region and Bayelsa State in
particular during emergencies despite its huge contribution to the nation’s
coffers.
Apaingolo appealed to the Federal
Government to support the efforts of the state
government by urgently sending relief materials.
He stressed that flood is a natural
disaster but land developers need to be conscious not to erect structures on
canals in order to avert disasters like this.
Earlier, the paramount ruler of
Otuebhi community, Chief Ase Wilberforce and Vice Chairman Community
Development Committee, Mr. Robinson Opuene, while narrating their ordeal,
thanked the government team for visiting th community to assess their
situation.
Chief Wilberforce called on the
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other agencies to urgently
assist them as the flood had rendered them homeless and destroyed their
farmlands.
He however added that they prefer to
live in their flooded communities instead of moving to the designated IDP camp
for their area because of the need to protect their property, which he said would
be vulnerable to vandals if they leave.
The paramount ruler thanked Governor
Seriake Dickson for his concern for
their welfare and appealed for early release of the relief items from
government.
The environment commissioner was
accompanied by the Permanent Secretary
in his ministry, the SEMA Director of Operations, the Head Media and
Events to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Ono Akpe and other officials from the
Ministry of Environment.
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