Residents of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital are now counting their losses as a result of heavy rainfall in the past few days that caused heavy flooding of their premises, thereby disrupting social and business activities.
Areas mostly affected includes Ekeki, Biogbolo, Okaka, Kpansia, Amarata, Yenuzuepie, Yenuzuengenni, Azikoro road and parts of Opolo among others.
At Ekeki, you have to roll your trousers up to knee level, before you can enter the premises of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat, the NTA, Radio Bayelsa and the Ekeki Police Station.
The cause of flooding according to The Tide investigation is not unconnected with the on-going construction works in the state capital, while some of the roads have no provision for culverts, most of the water channels in the swampy state capital has been blocked.
But the state Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd) who confirmed that the on-going construction works were responsible for the havoc says there is no cause for alarm as government is taking steps to address the problems.
Addressing reporters after inspecting some of the affected areas, Jonah appealed to the affected residents to show understanding and cooperate with government by clearing their drainages to make for free flow of water. Rear Admiral John Jonah assured that government was doing everything possible to address the problem.
He directed the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure and other relevant ministries as well as agencies to work closely with the various contractors to create temporary channels to drain out water from the affected areas.
Describing the landform of Yenagoa and its environs as very low, the Deputy Governor observed that though it is difficult to completely prevent flooding in the meantime, the present administration would engage the services of technical experts to carry out relevant baseline studies with a view to constructing major drainages within the town.
Rear Admiral John Jonah however, warned the people to resist the temptation of building on natural drainages, stating that henceforth, government will not hesitate to deal decisively with those who flout the already existing land development and town planning laws.
“The drainage problem has been a persistent one because people build on areas that they are not supposed to. We have seen some channels that people have built across, thereby obstructing the flow of water. It does not encourage sustainable development and so we will do everything we can to put a stop to that within the confines of existing urban and town planning laws.
The Deputy Governor, who visited Azikoro, Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) Osiri in Ekeki, Isaac Boro roads was accompanied by the Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Lawrence Ewrudjakpo, Capital City Development, Mr. Zuwa Konugah, Information and Orientation, Markson Fefegha, Lands and Survey, Furoebi Akene and Special Projects, Fred Obuah.
Others are, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Anapurere Awoli, Chief of Staff Government House, Chief Diekivie Ikiogha and Executive Secretary of Capital City Development Authority, Chief Iboro Ige-Idaba.
