Niger Delta
… Orders Provision Of Food Storage Centres
Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson has directed
the State Ministry of Agriculture to establish and control three food storage
sites in Yenagoa as part of proactive measure taken by the state to save flood
victims from starvation.
Hon. Dickson who gave the order in a radio and television
broadcast, last Wednesday also said that the State Emergency Response
Management Committee under the chairmanship of Deputy Governor Gboribiogha John
Jonah is working round the clock to provide some level of relief and succour to
the people.
The Governor who urged Bayelsans not to despair but brace up
in the face of the current crisis caused by unprecedented flood across
communities in the State enjoined them
to reach out to the committee through the emergence hot line, 07023001002, 07023001003, and 07023001004.
The Governor explained that having made an assessment of the
level of damage to communities, government was prompted to notify the State
House of Assembly on the need for a supplementary budget to tackle the
situation.
He, therefore, expressed conviction that in the light of the
emergency situation, the Assembly would act expeditiously, and assured that government on its part would do
everything within its power to mitigate the effects arising from the flood.
He also urged Bayelsans to take extra caution over their
lives and those of their families especially children, the aged and the
physically challenged.
The governor sympathized with the security agencies who are
also displaced and noted that a meeting with the state security council will be
convened to assess the effect of the disaster and fashion out a comprehensive
security approach.
Governor Dickson
highlighted plans by government to fight communicable diseases during
and after the flood.
Accordingly he directed the Ministry of Health to devise appropriate measures to address
medical issues, saying that government,
was adopting various precautionary measures to forestall imminent shortage of food with a robust plan
to boost food production as parts of the east-west road have been over taken by
water.
To this end, he said plans are on to procure early maturing
and high yielding cassava stem and other
inputs from local and international research institutes to ensure food
security.
Direct government involvement, according to the governor,
will be required in the production of essential food items like cassava, maize,
cocoa yam, rice, plantain and livestock as well as provide support for
individual farmers.
The State chief executive enjoined Bayelsans to lend a helping
hand to their fellow brothers and sisters in need at this trying period.
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
