Bayelsa Residents Cry On Government To Help Them

 

As the rains continue to increase on daily basis especially in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa Sate capital, Yenagoa residents especially those staying along street opposite the Medical University have cried out as they said that the man -made flood and waters have added more suffering to their plight.

 

Recall that the Nigeria Metrological Agency had predicted that about 19 states in the country will witness flash flooding this year with Bayelsa State among them.

 

 A routine  check by crystalnewsonline which  took her to Imgbi area of the state met the residents lamenting of their predicament.

 

A resident of the area who pleaded anonymity for fear of victimization had said that what they are suffering in recent times was not there before the construction of the new road.

 

She said: “This our compound is always flooded each time rains falls. If you come here when rain is falling, you will definitely swim inside the compound. Each time it rains, all our property will be soaked and we will be carrying them up and down to sun them. We don’t have any other place to go. That is why we are still here.

 

“My husband is late. I’m the only person taking care of my children. That is why I’m still here, if not, every other person have packed out of the compound but I don’t have money to pack out. This compound is always  flooded after rain but it doesn’t mean anything because immediately the rain stops, it goes away but now that road passed, we were celebrating that we have got road saying Douye Diri, God bless you but now if rain falls, everywhere will be flooded.

 

“If rains falls like this, we raise our things up including our foams and we will be inside the house until it stops and then we will start bailing water to outside .This whole thing is happening like this because of this road, everywhere has blocked. I have been here for so many years. It was not like this before this road construction.

 

 “We are calling on the government to come and help us. We have small children. We don’t have money to buy new foams but sometimes, the ones we have will be soaked and we will sleep on the floor before you know another rain has fallen again and the circle continues. I’m praying that God will help me so that I will leave here. Let God send a helper to come and help me.”

 

Another resident of the area, Madam Preye Jonah said that the flood is also disturbing them in their area but testified that their own always comes from the Canal at the back of where she is staying adding that “if the Canal fills up, the water runs into the street. 

 

 She said that the new road it is not really affecting them living around there.

 

Also, crystalnewsonline visited the Yenagoa/Oporoma Road leading to Southern Ijaw Local and noticed that the level of work there has reached an advanced stage with the bridge almost crossing to the other side of the headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government.

 

A source at the site hinted that the road has about 56 beams at this side of the road and another 56 beams to cross to the other side of the road disclosing that in the next 18 months, the road will be in use.

 

 But all efforts to get confirmation from the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure proved abortive after several efforts.