Diri said the government and people of Bayelsa were not pleased with some remarks credited to Farouq about the flood disaster in the state.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, on Tuesday paid a visit to Bayelsa over the flooding in the state.
Farouq had earlier said that Bayelsa was not among the 10 most impacted states in the 2022 flood disaster that affected 33 states.
But the Bayelsa State Government countered her, saying its own data showed that the state recorded 96 deaths, while some 1.2 million residents were displaced.
Farouq said in Bayelsa, “It is indeed with heavy heart that l and my teams have come to Bayelsa State to empathise and condole with the government and the good people of Bayelsa State over the unfortunate incident of recent flood disaster in the state that claimed lives and properties.
“This monumental loss is indeed great and has impacted negatively on the state and the country at large.”
Farouq said President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of 12,000 metric tons of assorted food commodities from National Strategic Reserve Stock for distribution to victims of the flood disaster in the country as a way of assuaging their suffering.
She commended the Bayelsa government for providing support to the flood affected persons and appreciated the understanding of concerned members of the public on the intervention by the federal and state governments so far.
Receiving the minister and members of her entourage in Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Douye Diri noted that the minister’s visit to the state was long expected, especially when the flood was at its peak.
The governor was represented by his Deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
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He pointed out that initially the government and people of Bayelsa were not pleased with some remarks credited to Farouq about the flood disaster in the state, that Bayelsa was not among the 10 most impacted states in the country.
He thanked the Federal Government for the relief materials sent to Bayelsa so far, but pointed out that some of the relief items were not officially channelled through the state government to the flood victims.
“We are happy and elated that you have finally visited to commiserate with us. The flooding disaster is actually nobody’s fault but it is an issue of climate change.
“For record purposes, our meteorological department in the Surveyor General office and Ministry of Environment monitored the flood and from records available it showed that the flood rose by 4.26 metres.
“And that is why, for the first time almost the entire state was submerged in water,” he said.