Gov’s Aide Demands Apology From Minister Over Comments On Bayelsa Floods

Bayelsa Floods – Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Bayelsa State Governor on Media, Comrade Tamarakuro Oweifie, has frowned at comments credited to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouq, that Bayelsa Is not among the top-ten states hit by the devastating floods of 2022.

The SSA, who made his opinions known via a release sent to The Eagle, wondered what basis Mrs Farouq used in making her “unverified assessment”.

Reiterating that Bayelsa State was the worst hit by the floods this year, the SSA added that of the 33 states forecast by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) earlier, to be flooded this year, that it was only Bayelsa State that was eventually cut off from the rest of the world due to the flood.

“The two land access  routes into Bayelsa through the East-West Road were totally impassable at the over ten kilometers Umeh- axis of the Patani-Ugheli end, in Delta State, as well as the over 19 kilometers stretch of the Okobe-Ahoada axis in Rivers State, thereby leaving residents at their own mercy”, he said.

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Also, “Petroleum Products, cash crops and other basic necessities were totally not accessible into Bayelsa State as food shortages and fuel supplies were at an all-time low leaving residents at the mercy of cut throat marketers who sell as high as a thousand naira for a litre of fuel which was never so in other flood impacted states across the nation which sell a little above the stipulated price of N180 per liter.

“Beyond the non-availability of staple foods for residents and internally displaced persons, Bayelsa stands as the only state nationwide with ALL Local Government Areas affected by the flood leaving indigenes at the mercy of nature in want for humanitarian assistances of which the Federal Government through NEMA, was no where to be found since late September when the flooding began.

According to Comrade Oweifie, it was a wonder where the unverifiable statistics of deaths from the flood were arrived at by the Minister as no federal agency had been spotted in the state to take stock in relation to the disaster.

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“There have been over a hundred flood-induced deaths occurring in the state without due records due to the challenging terrain as most health care centers and hospitals were closed down during this period.

“The Bayelsa State Teaching Hospital Okolobiri, and other rural health centers have been shut down due to flooding”.

According to SSA, over 300 communities were affected even as mortuaries in the state capital remain currently filled up to capacity due to hundreds of flood impacted deaths.

He added that accessing fuel to power generating sets for the only available public hospital, FMC Yenagoa morgue has been a Herculean task, Comrade Oweifie asserted.

“Bayelsa stands as the only state in the federation where public and private schools have been closed down for six weeks due to flood impacted losses while other states, as well as those, whom the Minister say are on the top-ten worse hit state, have been managing some public and private schools and getting education even amidst the menace, which is non existent in Bayelsa during this flood period.

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“Bayelsa State has faced a total shut down of its economy as a result of the flood as over 90% of its population have been directly or indirectly impacted by the ravaging floods.

“Houses have been totally submerged in Biseni, Elemebiri, Ekperiwari, Sampou, Kalama, Tombia, and in all communities in Ekeremor, Sagbama, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Ogbia and Southern Ijaw.

“The data relied upon by the Federal Government to place other northern states as worst hit than Bayelsa is erroneous and must be duly corrected”, the SSA said.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouq

“Bayelsa stands as the worst hit state as a result of the 2022 floods as the waters have been on the rise, at over 20 feet above sea levels in several areas;

“For the last one week a public health epidemic is looming if urgent interventions are not accessed with immediate alacrity.

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“Apart from the Bayelsa International airport which was not flooded as a result of the cost effective piling work done by the state government (to augment a Federal Government responsibility yet to be recouped) that has been the only access to the state but even at that the roads out of the airport are still impacted and damaged beyond repairs by the flood waters.

“We therefore call on the federal government through the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouq to withdraw her provocative statement that Bayelsa is not among the ten worse hit state by the flood and for her to tender an unreserved apology to the people and victims of the flood in Bayelsa State for her error of judgement is questionable and frivolous”.

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“While we shall hate to adduce any ethnic colourations in her statement, we wish to state categorically that Bayelsa State as the goose that lays the golden egg for Nigeria’s economic main stay of oil and gas,  has been the worse hit as this is the only state where all her economic livelihood, health facilities, social infrastructure, have been destroyed by the floods in aLL Local Government Areas without exception; and we are yet to get any federal government assistance in spite of Mr President’s assurances to alleviate the plight of flood victims”, the SSA stated.