•••Gov Diri Extends Workers Break
*Confirms Flight Resumption At Bayelsa Airport
The President of Azikel Group of Companies Dr. Azibapu Eruani, has pledged donation of relief materials worth N350 million to victims of flooding in Bayelsa State.
The Bayelsa-born businessman made the announcement when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Douye Diri in Government House, Yenagoa on Monday.
Dr Eruani said his visit was to offer hope to the people since the state government alone cannot deal with the devastation caused by the flood.
He said the massive devastation caused by this year’s floods informed his management’s decision to donate the food items to the victims.
In his remarks, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, urged corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals to take a cue from the management of Azikel Group of Companies who pledged a donation of N350 million worth of food items to flood victims in the state.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, commended Eruani, an indigene of the state, for identifying with the flood-ravaged people.
Diri described the businessman’s gesture as a demonstration of his love for his people In time of distress.
He said, “You are the first person from our state to visit us at your level and capacity and that shows that you hold your people in your heart.”
Diri, who also spoke on the state’s airport road being threatened by the flood, said the government took some urgent steps to rehabilitate portions of the road linking the facility and that the United Nigeria Airlines resumed commercial flights on Monday.
“Let me let Nigerians know that the airport is not cut off. Our airport is functional. That is why Azikel Group today flew into Yenagoa through the Bayelsa airport.
“We took some proactive steps on the road leading to the airport. That road is now motorable and the airline operating here has also resumed today.”
Governor Diri repeated his call on the federal government to intervene in undertaking repair works on the portion of the East-West road ravaged by the flood at both axis of the bordering states of Rivers and Delta.
He also urged the Azikel Group to expedite action on its modular refinery project in order to enhance supply of petroleum products to the state.
In a related development, the governor announced the extension of the break for civil servants in the state by another one week.
He had last Tuesday during a state broadcast announced an initial break of one week to cushion the effect of the floods on workers in the state.
He made the fresh pronouncement at Zarama community where he made a stop in continuation of his tour of flood-impacted communities of Zarama and Okordia in Yenagoa local government area and Kalama in Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area.
Diri stressed that the compassion of a true leader was felt not only during electioneering period but also in times of distress.
He underscored the need for all to be their brother’s keeper, particularly in this trying times, noting that natural disasters were no respecter of political parties or ethnicity.
