…Diri commended over shifts in school resumption

By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

Life is gradually returning to normalcy in most of the Bayelsa State communities affected by flood as indigenes have began to go about their daily activities following the receding of the flood.

The Technical Assistant to the Bayelsa State Governor on Environment Comrade Alagoa Morris who led some Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, and journalists to visit some of the communities in the three senatorial districts on Tuesday, said it is heart warming that the flood was receding fast.

He commended the state government for shifting the resumption date for schools, noting that some communities that were flooded had schools that were also flooded, while some communities had schools that were also used as a relief camp for flood victims.

Morris said: “Today, we have redeemed the promise of going back to the field to see the situation of things as far as flood impacted communities are concerned

“Starting from the Biseni Community, we have observed the Tailor Creek from Biseni up to the Ikarama, Okadia and Zarama axis.We also went to Adagbabiri in Sagbama Local Government Area, and.also visited Sampou, the governor’s community before we proceeded back to Yenagoa observing the Epie Creek and headed towards the Ogbia Local Government axis to also observe the Kolo Creek.

“So today too we have been able to hit the three senatorial zones of the state and it is very cheering, and our observation is that the flood is actually fast receding. In areas where we waded through water in Biseni, Adagbabiri and other places about two weeks ago, today, we saw all those places dry.

“As environmentalists, we are just here to observe and then to sympathize, express our empathy with victims. And feeling the pulse of the communities and the people today is really a confirmation of the fact that there is time for everything.

“And Iam also happy to use this opportunity to also say that the flood break and shift in school resumption was worth it, even though this was not a monster flood.Even though most communities were safe and some schools were actually safe, we also observed that some communities that were flooded had schools that were also flooded.

“We had schools that were also used as a relief camp for victims and now they are all free.And so the policy of a flood break is not bad.We are hoping that all things being equal, maybe some of the affected schools will be fumigated.”

Some of the community leaders who spoke including the paramount ruler of Adagbabiri Community, HRH King Broderick Okee, called on government at all levels and relevant government agencies to come to the aid of the affected flood victims with some relief materials.