By Chris Ochayi

ABUJA—The Federal Government has said it was making efforts to alleviate the sufferings of  people of Niger Delta whose homes and farmlands were affected by the recent floods.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, who gave the assurance when he led a delegation of  top management of the Ministry on an on-the-spot assessment of flooded areas, particularly section 1 of the East-West Road which lies between Ughelli, Uwheru and Pattani in Delta State, however, appealed to the people not to indulge in any form of violence.

The Minister regretted the sufferings of the people due to the devastating effect of the flood on the road, particularly the economic hardship, as a result of flooding of the East-West Road.

The flood had hampered movement of vehicles, cutting off several communities and farmlands in the region.

He said:  “As a ministry, we have come to see the situation on ground. It is a disaster and something we have not seen for a long time.

“The East-West Road is completely gone. You know the Ministry is working to complete the road in 2014 but as it is now, it has become a dream.”

Orubebe noted that he had met with Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Oduaghan, and discussed the urgent need for the provision of relief materials and to ensure that the road was opened for use by motorists.

He assured the people of equitable distribution of relief materials.

The minister reiterated that the Ministry had put up a programme of action which would involve the use of motorised boats to convey food items to the affected areas for distribution to the people.

Elder Orubebe informed the people that as a son of the soil, he was directly affected and passionate about their plight and called on them to be law abiding and patient with the state and federal governments.

Speaking further, he said the pain inflicted in the heart of Mr. President by the disaster could clearly be seen, stating that the problem created by the flood was beyond the local, and state governments.

Consequently, Orubebe said the Federal Government was ready and had initiated partnership with the international community on how to bring the situation under control.