Flood Wreaks Havoc In Bayelsa Communities

A week long continuous down pour has forced most creeks and rivers in Bayelsa State to overflow its banks thereby wreaking havoc in most riverine communities.

Most affected are communities in Southern Ijaw, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Sagbama and Yenagoa local government areas.

Also turned to fishing pond is the site for the state cargo airport along East/West road in which millions of naira had been spent by the state government in clearing and sand fillings.

In Sabagaria, both schools, churches and residential buildings have been submerged in water with properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

The state capital, Yenagoa, the story is the same as tales of woes could be heard loud and clear in surrounding towns such as Opolo, Biogbola, Swali, Ekeki, Amarata, Ovom, Okaka and Okutukutu among others.

A spokesman of Sabagria community, Mr Tony Binawari, said this year’s flood was unprecedented, called on the state government and National Emergency Agency to come to the aid of the community to enable her survive the trauma, the people are now undergoing.

However, most residents affected by the flood are blaming their misfortune on blockage of natural water routes by developers.

One of the victims, Seiyifa Ogoun told The Tide, that efforts by Yenagoa City Development Authority (YCOA) to open up some areas are being resisted by top government functionaries whose houses were built on water channels.

He also accused the authority of paying lips service to construction of central drainage system in the city.

However efforts to have either Ministry of  Environment or staff of the YCDA to react on the issue was not successful as they all kept sealed lips, saying they don’t want to attract the wrath of anybody.