Bayelsans Call On Government To Open Up Cannals. For Easy Flow Of Water.

 

 Bayelsa State residents have once again called on the state government to at least clear the canals to enable water have its way.

Another announcement came two days ago that Cameroun Dam will be opened soon. Bayelsans are already begining to be afraid considering the havoc flood caused last year with many lives and properties lost.

Although the Bayelsa State government had inugurated a flood and erosion committee  around March this year to handle the situation but little seems to be done as most of the Canals are yet to be cleared including those around Airforce Road in Okaka, Yenagoa.

Some residents who spoke to this reporter on Monday said that  they are going to leave the state if this year’s flood gets to the level it got to last year.

 Also there are no signs of internally displaced camps  being erected anywhere around the state capital as at the time of filling in this report.

 Mr Wisdom Kelsey  in his thirties staying at Airforce  area and rears Dogs appealed to the government to come and clean up the canals stating that he doesn’t like what they are doing by just cleaning up the places people are seeing and leaving places like Airforce where people are not seeing.

  Kelsey appealed to the government to check round with drone after the cleaning has been done to know if truly the cleaning has been done. 

  Mrs Nimiye Allison thirty five years old also staying at Airforce road said that she doesn’t know where to run to stating that she doesn’t have anywhere. 

 Allison prayed that this year’s flood will not be as big as last year’s own. “If it comes like that of last year, we will pack and carry our children to anywhere. I don’t even know where to pack to, no hope of where to pack to yet.

“Let the state government come and open this canal for us. Let them clear the canal well so that even if the water comes it will go. For now everywhere is blocked. I have children where am I packing to? She asked.

Yet another woman in her forties Madam Preye Gwembe staying  around Prosco road said that she has already constructed block wardrobe and block kitchen cabinet in anticipation of the flood.

“For me im already getting ready. I have done my kitchen cabinet. I have also done wardrobe with blocks so that when the time comes, I will pack all my things on top. My boxes and other important things and I will find my way but I’m still praying that it doesn’t come.

 Madam Tare piff Edo in her reaction called on the government to clear the canals stating that  “Some of us that have  no places to go to we will still stay  here until the flood subsides. Like last year, we were swimming inside the water. The water was more than our waist.  

“The only assistance we need from the state government is that they should give financial assistance to the masses because prices of things will   escalate with the introduction of fuel  subsidy. They should keep constant light. Let them look for sincere Bayelsans that they will give money to share to people.  

She said those that will not go and camp in IDP camps should be remembered by  the government by giving them money. “During last year, we were using N200 to enter canoe, this year nobody knows how much canoe will collect. 

 She suggested that government should do house counting and give people  like  N10,00 each including children it will go a long way. “During that time, let them come inside the flood to see things for themselves. Even those that left can be called to come and benefit, it will not be enough for the challenges but at least we will manage it.

 

  For Madam Harriet, she said that she  was rejoicing that the flood will not come this year  according to people but said that is if eventually comes, they will buy planks and construct something in their rooms where they will keep their loads.

   She said “I have planned, if it comes to Mbiama,   we will do a Kpako in our house and carry our loads up and think of what next to do. I'm not planning anything in particular. I don’t know where to go and I’m not going that Oxbow Lake.

 For  this reporter who was a major victim last year, all her plans are to put the few loads on top  of the wardrobe, the kitchen cabinet and at the dinning side where the house is higher and move away with her children.

For another journalists residing at Aeroplane junction Oxbow lake Mike Tayese,  he said he has already booked for a room at the NUJ Press Center where he took abode during last year’s flood stating that all his books were destroyed by flood last year.