Humanitarian Minister visits Bayelsa, Delta over flooding

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Dr. Sadiya Umar Farouq, yesterday, visited Bayelsa and Delta states over recent floods that ravaged the states.

In Bayelsa, Governor Douye Diri received the minister, restating his call for effective support from the Federal Government over the recent flood disaster.

The governor, who spoke through the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, pointed out that initially the government and people of Bayelsa State were not pleased with some remarks credited to the minister about the flood disaster in the state, that Bayelsa was not among the 10 worst affected states in the country.

A statement signed by Doubra Atasi, the media aide to the Deputy Governor, said the governor informed the Minister that the flood rose to over 4.5 metres above its normal level and caused unprecedented devastation, hence the news that Bayelsa was not among the worst-hit states was unsettling and worrisome to its people.

The Bayelsa chief executive, who thanked the Federal Government for the relief materials it had sent to the state so far through the Ministry, however, pointed out that some of the relief items reportedly sent to the state were not officially channeled through the state government to the flood victims.

IN Asaba, the minister announced the release of 105 metric tons of maize, 88.7 metric tons of sorghum and 98.7 metric tons of garri for victims of flood disaster in Delta State, to ameliorate their sufferings. 
 
Farouq also flagged off the disbursement of the Grant for Vulnerable Groups programme (GVG) in the state and rolled out the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Porgramme (GEEP).

She said: “I wish to also commend the Delta State Government for providing support to affected persons and to acknowledge the understanding of the public on the intervention by the Federal and State Governments”.

According to her, the GVG and GEEP programmes “are part of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), which is the flagship social protection programme of President Buhari Administration, targeting the poor and vulnerable in the country.

Speaking further, she thanked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his support, adding: “The Federal Government has a dependable partner with demonstrable leadership qualities of selflessness and doggedness, especially when it comes to promoting the plight of the poor and vulnerable.”