ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mr Ayebaina Duba, has said the state government is committed to ensure that the adverse effects of flooding are mitigated in the state.
Duba said that the state government had already set up some pilot projects at Odi, Sampou and other communities that would help to tackle flooding in the state.
The commissioner spoke on Wednesday when the leadership of the Federated Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State, led by Mr Tife Owolabi, paid him a courtesy visit in his office at Information House.
He noted that the government had perfected plans to avert the ugly situations which characterised the past in the Yenagoa metropolis and adjoining communities.
Duba also said that even the security situation in the state was being taken care of, noting that community security corps had been established to tackle most of the security challenges being experienced by residents.
He commended the chapel for identifying with the Douye Diri administration and promised a more robust relationship between the government and the national journalists in the state.
Duba stated: “Flooding is something that has become part of us. The Ministry of the Environment in partnership with the Ministry of Works have embarked on some of the pilot projects in Odi, Samopou and others.
“Within the Yenagoa metropolis, the MoE officials are already preparing themselves to see what they can do. We want to see in this flood circle that whatever measures that have been taken will be effective. We don’t even need NIMET to tell us because we know where we are coming from.
“On security, there has been a little spike in cult activities but you will recall that the community security corps bill was sent to the House of Assembly and was passed into law.
“We have given legal teeth to bring all the volunteers, the vigilantes and every other community related outfits including Operation Doo Akpo under one management so that we know that the security situation is coordinated properly with the police and other security agencies we have in the state.”
In his remarks, the Chairman, FCC, Mr Tife Owolabi, said that the group came to familiarise with the ministry and the commissioner and thanked him for the role he played when one of the journalists was kidnapped recently.
He also reminded him of the coming floods and the security situation in the state, which he urged the government to address.
Owolabi said: “We want to thank you for the role you played when one of us was kidnapped. We want to see how we can have a robust relationship and synergy with your ministry because media plays a strong role in whatever you are doing.
“We will like to work with you as a person and as a ministry as one of the watchdogs of the society. We want to let you know that the rains are here and the people have already started feeling the impact. Government should start thinking on they can address the ugly situation.”
