….announces one week break for civil servants
He said the number indicated that the state has a humanitarian crisis which it cannot address in its hands.
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has disclosed that one million residents have been displaced by ravaging floods.
He said the number indicated that the state has a humanitarian crisis which it cannot address in its hands.
He said this in a radio broadcast on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, and also announced a one-week break for the state’s civil servants, except those on essential duties.
Diri, while sympathising with victims of the flood, expressed dismay that the state teaching hospital and two stated-owned universities had to be shut down due to the effect of the floods.
While saluting the courageous disposition of Bayelsans as they grapple with the natural disaster, the Governor appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to assist the state with grants from the ecological funds.
He noted that the sole access to the East-West road has been cut off at several points, making it impossible to access some areas in the state by road.
Bayelsa is undergoing a power blackout as supply of electricity has been cut as a safety measure because most distribution transformers and stations are already submerged.
The alternative of power generators has not been able to meet the demand of the people of the State because fuel stations have run out of fuel due to lack of access roads, leaving residents to resort to illegal refineries which are being clamped down by the renewed fight against oil theft.
It was gathered that residents of the state now buy a litre of petrol between N700 and N800, with attendant hikes in transport fares, services by small businesses like barbers, among others.
Food supply and telecommunications services were also affected, as many base stations have run out of fuel.