Bayelsa Agric Ministry Directed to Establish Food Sites for Flood Victims .

Governor henry seriake dickson

 As part of efforts to tackle the current flooding in the state, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has directed the State Ministry of Agriculture to establish and control three food storage sites in Yenagoa.

Governor Dickson gave this directive during a special broadcast to the people of the state barely twenty four-hours after President Goodluck Jonathan’s nationwide broadcast on the flooding, which has affected over twenty five states in the country.

According to him, the State Emergency Response Manangement Committee under the Chairmanship of Deputy Governor Gboribiogha John Jonah is working round the clock to provide some level of relief and succor to the people.

The Governor urged Bayelsans not to despair but brace up in the face of the current crisis caused by unprecedented flood across communities in the State.

Governor Dickson 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 of a supplementary budget to tackle the situation.

He therefore expressed conviction that in the light of the emergence situation, the Assembly would act expeditiously.

Governor Dickson 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, 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 also highlighted plans by Government to communicable diseases during and after the flood. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health has been directed to devise appropriate measures to address medical issues.

Government, he assured was adopting various precautionary measures to forestall the imminent shortage of food and has developed a robust plan to boost food production as parts of the east-west road have been over taken by water.

To this end, plans are on to procure early maturing and high yielding cassava stem cuttings 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.