Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has urged the Federal Government to declare a national emergency on Bayelsa and other states ravaged by this year’s flood disaster that has devastated lives and property.
A statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said Diri made the call at an emergency Security Council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
According to the governor, “This year’s flooding has surpassed that of 2012, which is the highest we have witnessed so far. It has become a security emergency.
“Bayelsa is below sea level and when the flood comes, virtually everywhere is flooded. Even the Government House is being threatened.”
He also noted that the flooding had severely impacted communities, homes and road infrastructure, which had resulted in the state being cut off from neighboring states of Rivers and Delta states.
“As we speak, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called off its strike. But as universities are opening, our own state university cannot open because the only road linking the university has been broken into three parts.
“The only road that links Opokuma and Sabagreia in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area and the only one also connecting Sagbama to Ekeremor that is still under construction has been broken. There is hunger and palpable tension in the state,” Diri said.
