Bayelsa Flood: Ijaw groups tasked Diri with developing a master mitigation plan

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has been urged to make public as soon as possible a comprehensive master plan for providing a long-term solution to the state’s perennial flooding, which has become an existential threat to the people of the state.

This demand was contained in a statement issued yesterday in Lagos by a Coalition of Ijaw Interest Groups, which expressed dismay over the government’s lackadaisical attitude toward its recommendations as well as previous reports presented to previous administrations on some steps that could be taken to address the flood menace in the state in the aftermath of the 2018 unmitigated disaster.

Bayelsa State was one of the states hardest hit by the recent flood disaster, which devastated many communities across the country. While expressing its condolences to the affected communities and people, the group chastised Diri’s administration for failing to respond to earlier calls to implement necessary mitigation measures.

The release signed by the Secretary of the Ijaw Elders Forum (IEF), Pastor Efiye Bribena, on behalf of the Coalition, reads in part: “At the onset of the disastrous flood that ravaged Ijaw Land from September till November this year, this coalition of Ijaw Interest Groups wrote to the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri on October 21, 2022, with recommendations on some steps to take to address the flood disaster.

“Unfortunately, we have yet to receive a response on this matter. People have died, property has been destroyed, and the affected communities are still traumatized. Nonetheless, the government continues to be insensitive to the plight of the people they are elected to govern. As a result, we are perplexed as to whose interests the state government represents if it cannot find time to address recommendations advanced to address such an existential threat.”

As a result, the group charged the government with immediately deploying emergency relief and rehabilitation in accordance with international humanitarian best practices, while also working on long-term solutions to the recurring but manageable disaster.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) has begun distributing relief materials to 1,350 flood victims in Kogi State.

Last Thursday, the Secretary-General of NRCS, who flagged off the distribution of relief items at Budon community in Lokoja council of the state, said the gesture was aimed at alleviating the victims’ sufferings.

According to Track News, the donation will benefit 1,350 flood victims from three local councils in Lokoja, Ibaji, and Kogi.

The Kogi beneficiaries were reportedly among the 500,000 most affected people targeted by the society across 22 states in the country.

Kende explained that the 500,000 beneficiaries were the most severely affected victims identified and chosen across the country based on prescribed criteria developed with community members.

“In Kogi, 150 households in Budon community, majority of who are aged and vulnerable will be given the relief items.

“Among the Budon community’s beneficiaries is Aliyu Sidi, 22, who lost his father and mother in the flood disaster.

“By our arrangement, each of the victims will receive 25kg of rice, 30kg of gari, 30kg of beans, five-litre of palm oil and 25-litre of jerrycan for water storage.

“Needs assessment conducted revealed that the most affected persons listed these items as their priority needs prior to registration, using prescribed selection criteria developed with community members,” he explained.