The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has berated the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, for visiting the state several days after this year’s floods had started receding.
Receiving her during a courtesy call in the Government House, Yenagoa on Tuesday, Diri said the minister’s visit was long overdue given the flood disaster in the state.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, told Farouq that had she visited when the flood was at its peak she would have had a better perception of the disaster.
“If you had visited us at the peak of the flood, you would have better appreciated what we as a government and people went through.
“Even now that the flood is receding, you will agree with me that its effect is beyond the handling of the state government. That is why we continue to appeal to the Federal Government and other well-meaning individuals and organizations for assistance,” he said.
Diri said the government and people of Bayelsa State were not pleased with the minister’s remarks that Bayelsa was not among the 10 worst-affected states in the country.
According to him, the flood rose to over 4.5 meters above its normal level and caused unprecedented devastation, hence, the news that Bayelsa was not among the worst-hit states was unsettling.
However, while empathizing with the government and people of Bayelsa over the flood, Farouq disclosed that part of her visit to the state was also to roll out her ministry’s economic empowerment packages for beneficiaries in the state.
She said, “Given the magnitude of the devastation in the State and most parts of the country at large, l wish to inform you that His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of 12,000 metric tons of assorted food commodities from the National Strategic Reserve for distribution to victims of this flood disaster in the country as a way of assuaging their suffering.
“In addition, there are relief materials and other interventions that have been provided since July 2022 by NEMA, an Agency under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
“I wish to also commend Bayelsa State Government for providing support to the flood affected persons and to acknowledge the understanding of the public on the intervention by the Federal and State Governments.”
Speaking on the Home Grown School Feeding Programme and the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme GEEP 2.0, Farouq said the programme is designed for vulnerable citizens.
According to her, “We are also rolling out the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP 2.0) designed for vulnerable and low-income Nigerians who are involved in productive activities but have no access to loans.
“The first phase of the GEEP programme registered about 8,762 potential beneficiaries in Bayelsa State across the 8 LGAs after which verification was carried out and about 828 beneficiaries were selected.
“These selected beneficiaries have undergone enumeration and today l have come to roll out the programme in the Bayelsa State.
“Hence, successful beneficiaries of the GEEP programme will start receiving credit alerts from Access bank from today by God’s grace.”
