The lawmkers had noted that the Minister on November 3, 2022 was reported to have said that Bayelsa State is not even among the first ten States affected by flooding in the recent flooding ravaging some states in Nigeria.
The Caucus Leader Hon.Dr Frederick Y. Agbedi and other lawmkers at a media briefing said the Minister had in a recent speech excluded Bayelsa state from the top ten most affected states by the 2022 flood describing it as wrong.
According to the lawmaker, the comments of the minister are at variance with the statement of the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria Mr Matthias Schmale, who declared Bayelsa a disaster zone.
“It is an undeniable fact that Bayelsa State is not only cut off from the rest of the country but 80% of the landmass at peak of the flood was submerged with over 70% of the inhabitants displaced as a result of the flood. It suffices to state, that there are glaring evidence that has shown the world where the flood is worst hit in Nigeria, testimonies from highly placed Nigerians who visited the state, of the devastating effect
of the flood.”
“We wish to bring to the Minister’s attention, that the entire Niger Delta States of Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa ibom, Edo, Imo and Cross River are highly impacted.” he said
Agbedi who stated that currently, Bayelsa State is the only state that cannot be linked by road to the western flank of the country through Delta State and to the eastern flank through Rivers State, said almost the entire State has been under water with all schools in the state closed closed down.
A member of the Rivers State Caucus Hon.Inombek Abiante also said that the East-West road the connected Rivers and Delta States and other states is in complete sordid state and washed off due to the recent flooding.
He said that there is no construction work ongoing on the very strategic road presently by the federal government or rehabilitation by any of its agencies adding that part of the road that seem to have been done is completely lost to the ravaging flood.
Some other members of the political party caucuses at the joint press briefing include Hon. Prof Steve Azaiki, Hon.Preye Oseke, Hon.Dunamene Deekor and Hon. Obua Fred, Hon.Solomon Bob and Hon. Johson Oghuma and other lawmkers.