Following the devastation caused by flood, the Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri has directed the immediate closure of all primary and secondary schools across the state.
A statement on Sunday, October 18, 2020, by the Governor’s chief press secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said the directive takes effect from Monday, October 19.
Diri said the decision was taken to avert further danger to lives.
He gave the directive after leading a team of his cabinet members and other government officials on an on-the-spot visit to some of the flooded communities in Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw local government areas at the weekend.
The Governor, who lamented the devastating effect of the flooding on the people and communities, said his administration would not abandon them at this time of need.
He stated as a concerned government, palliatives would be sent to victims of the disaster as a temporary measure.
He said: “Due to the devastating effect of the flooding that I have seen, I hereby direct the Commissioner for Education to immediately shut down all secondary and primary schools pending when the floods will abate. We do not want to lose lives and we do not want reptiles to cause injuries to our children and wards.
“Painfully, we have to take this decision because the schools were just resuming from COVID-19 closure and here we have another natural challenge arising from flooding.
“I will continue with this visit to empathise and sympathise with our brothers and sisters. Let me assure all of them that as a state we are with them.”
Diri called on federal agencies, particularly the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to come to the aid of the state.
“We also appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately come to our aid, particularly with respect to the ecological fund and all other funds available to ensure that our people are not neglected.”
Diri equally directed Vice Chancellor of the Niger Delta University to immediately explore and ensure that a department be created for erosion control in the institution.
He emphasised the need for a permanent solution to the annual flooding challenge, saying the people have suffered enough.
Source: The Nation
