Bayelsa angry with FG over flooding response

Bayelsa state Government has expressed anger over the response of the Federal Government to the monumental flooding that has ravaged the state.

The state Government in a statement titled, “Flood: FG abandons Its Responsibility In Bayelsa state”, signed by ayiba Duba, commissioner for Information, Orientation and strategy.

The statement stemmed from comments by sadiya Farouq, minister of Humanitarian affairs, Disaster Management and social Development, that Bayelsa is not one of the 10 most impacted states, by the 2022 flood.

The statement read in part: “The minister’s claim is disheartening, but not surprising. The slow response to the humanitarian crisis arising from the flood despite the President’s directive for her to come to the aid of the state is indeed a confirmation of our belief that the Federal Ministry and its agencies have abandoned their responsibility and are not interested in managing the disaster.

“With seven of the eight local Government areas seriously affected by the flood and roads and other critical infrastructure destroyed, the state Government accused the minister of “relying on a bogus data in contradiction of the clear reality that every local government in the state is impacted by the flood in varying degrees”.

according to the statement, rather than coming down to assess the situation, Farouq remained in abuja questioning why no representative of the Federal Government had visited the state since the flood occurred.

since 2012, Bayelsa was cut off from both Delta and Rivers states, as sections of the eastwest Road in both states were damaged by the flood resulting to inflammation of prices of foodstuffs, among others.

Duba also accused the Federal Government of not empathising with the state, asking if Bayelsa state is still part of Nigeria and only important when it is time to exploit the resources of the land.

The statement contined: “If the humanitarian minister is sincere, let her tell Nigerians the relief materials brought to the state and who received them.

“The minister and indeed the Federal Government are not fair to our people who have undergone trauma of losing loved ones, homes and livelihood.

“In fact, the minister’s bogus data with which she came to the conclusion that Bayelsa was not even one of the ten most impacted contradict basic science, common sense, concern and kindness.

“How can a state up North, Jigawa, be worst impacted, when indeed Bayelsa state has the unfortunate responsibility of receiving the flood water that ran through more than 15 states?

“The data used by the federal ministry to arrive at the conclusion is suspect and erroneous. How was it arrived at? By sitting in an office and conjuring figures?

“By the reality on ground, over 300 communities were impacted by the flood and almost a million people were displaced from their homes, many of them losing their livelihood, in Bayelsa state. and no other state in the Federation is so impacted.

“If the minister is desirous of doing a good job, she should leave her cozy office in abuja and come to Bayelsa state to ascertain the truth, even as the flood began to recede.”