….seeks Assembly approval on N1.5billion for displaced persons, relief materials
The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has ordered the immediate and indefinite closure of Private and Public schools in the State following the rising water level and the reported threat to the residents of the state capital and its environs.
The order was also followed with a request sent to the state House of Assembly for its approval to allow his administration spend the sum of N1.5billion from the N27billion Compulsory Savings Account of the state to tackle the rising cases of emergency relocation of displaced persons and provision of relief materials to the affected communities.
Bayelsa residents are now living in fear as everybody is weary over the increasing flood situation in the state capital, just as the few safe houses are occupied by relations and friends who are equally faced with hardship as the cost of food stuffs are increasing geometrically.
Governor Seriake Dickson,in a statement issued yesterday in Yenagoa by the Chief Press Secetary (CPS),Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the order for the closure of schools became necessary due to the reported and alarming rise in water levels across the State and the danger it poses to the Citizenry, “The Governor has ordered the immediate and indefinite closure of all schools in the state. The decision was taken to safeguard the lives of children and to keep them away from possible dangers that could arise from the flood”.
“Government is by this appealing to parents and guardians to accept the decision as it was taken in the interest of all Bayelsans. We want to assure you that, normal academic activities will resume as soon as the situation is brought under control. His Excellency the Governor of Bayelsa State wishes to reassure the people of the state of government’s commitment to the welfare and well-being of Bayelsans of all ages, especially at these trying times”.
Meanwhile, the members of the State House of Assembly yesterday announced the receipt of a letter from the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, asking for the permission of the House to withdraw the sum of N1.5billion from the State Consolidated Accounts initiated by its administration for emergency cases such as the ravaging flood in the state.
However, what the state government should look at is the increasing rise in the cost of food stuffs which is caused due to the blocked access to and fro Bayelsa and neighboring Delta where most of the food items comes to the state, as a rubber of garri which hitherto costs N300 is now sold for N1, 500 while bags of rice are gradually disappearing from shops. There is panick buying in the state as nobody knows when the ravaging flood would cease.
