From Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
As well meaning Nigerians including corporate organizations continued to assist the flood victims in Bayelsa state, the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (Rtd) has extended a hand of fellowship to the flood victims in the state as he yesterday donated relief materials worth millions of naira to the victims.
Olubolade who was a one time Military Administrator in the state, described the recent flood as a mini tsunami, saying that his visit to the state was to access the extent of the damage caused by the flood as well as to know the level of security provided by the police, and give assistance where necessary.
While presenting the items which include several cartons of Indomie, cartons of soap, bags of rice and mattresses to the state government, the minister urged the Bayelsa state government to prepare for the rainy day as according to him, the state is at the lower end and would receive all the waters at times like this before it empties into the ocean.
He also advised that the state could build big halls for sports activities and raise it to a reasonable level so that when there is such occurrence, it could be used as camps for shelter, while commending the efforts of the state government and the good people of the to have put the victims to different camps.
The former military Administrator who was in the company of the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and the newly appointed Honorary Adviser to the state government on Agriculture, Dr. Steve Azaiki also urged other spirited individuals and organizations to support the state government in alleviating the sufferings of the displaced people, even as he said he would double what ever he has brought to the state.
“Government alone can not do it and that is why I have come to assist, but with what I have seen on ground, I have seen the need to double what I have done so that it will cater for many. As soon as they empty these items I will bring another one”, the minister declared.
Navy Capt. Olubolade (Rtd) who later visited the temporal camp of the traditional rulers noted that he would always associate with the people of Bayelsa, whether in good time or bad time, adding that he is impressed at the level of unity in the state, while commending Governor Dickson for his vision towards the development of the state.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Governor, the state Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (Rtd) expressed gratitude to the minister for his assistance, saying that his own is significant because the minister is by extension a Bayelsan having governed the state from 1997 to 1999 and therefore knows the terrain even better than some Bayelsans.
He pointed out that the post flood management is more challenging as the flood has dealt a devastating blow to many homes in the state, adding that already a committee has been set up to advice the government on the areas that need to give priority attention after the flood as there are issues of safety and hygiene.
“Already committee has been set up to advice the government on the areas we have to intervene. All public facilities must be addressed as some roads have been cut off. There are already plans to see how students especially the state owned Niger Delta University (NDU) will go back to their schools because the road is cut off into three areas. Survey has been done between the ministry of works and Julius Berger, we expect that by next week the work will start so that normal studies will start”, the Deputy Governor emphasized.
