Bayelsa flood victims lament negligence by government, oil firms

Dep gov, others donate relief materials

Flood victims in Bayelsa State have lamented the apathy of government and oil companies to their plight.They accused them of not showing enough concern, following the devastation of their homes, farmlands and livestock by floods.Residents of over 10 communities who were affected by the floods are host to Shell Development and Petroleum Company (SPDC).

Spokesperson at the camp, Egbe Zikina, spoke yesterday when the Deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral John Jonah visited the camp.They complained that neither the state, nor federal government had sent relief materials or visited them since the floods occurred.

Also residents of the internally displaced persons camps at Boro town in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Council Area appealed to the government to give them more essential items.They demanded fumigation of the camps to rid the places of snakes and other reptiles.The IDPs complained that neither the state nor federal government had sent relief materials or visited them since the flood occurred.

A philanthropist and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s gubernatorial aspirant in Bayelsa State, Mr. Kaniebi Okoko, also delivered relief materials worth millions of naira to some of the victims. Zikina thanked the deputy governor and the other donors for the visit and pleaded for the supply of more essential items like food, mosquito nets, as well as fumigation of the environment.

The deputy governor visited other camps where he also donated relief materials to the victims.In a similar development, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has urged oil firms operating in the Niger Delta to assist people displaced by floods in the region.Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote, made the appeal when he led management of the board to donate relief materials to the displaced persons in Igbogene area of Yenagoa.