•••Declares One Week Break For Civil Servants
By Kamsi Anayo
Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa state on Tuesday raised the alarm that the flood has displaced one million people in the state.
The Governor said that the flood calamity has created ma humanitarian crisis beyond the capacity of the state.
He said that the State since its creation and its people have not seen a flood as massive as devastating as the one being experienced in the State.
The Governor also announced a one-week break for civil servants except those on essential duties in the state .
Diri, who stated these in a radio broadcast, regretted that the state teaching hospital and two stated-owned universities have been forced to shut down by the floods.
He empathised with the people and saluted their courageous disposition as they grapple with the natural disaster.
The governor appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to assist the state with grants from the ecological fund.
He said that the main access road to the state, the East-West road has been cut off on several points making road transport to Bayelsa impossible.
It was learnt that public power supply has been cut as a safety measure as most distribution transformers and stations are already submerged.
Also, fuel stations which have since run out of fuel are not able to bring in fuel by road, leaving residents to resort to illegal refineries which are being clamped down by the renewed fight against oil theft.
The exorbitant cost of petrol which stands at between N700 and N800 for one liter has led to a more than 100 per cent increase in transport fares while small businesses, like barbers, have jerked up the cost of their services.
The blockade caused by the flood has also triggered a general scarcity of food, manufactured products including beverages and medicines, forcing prices to hit the roof tops.
The situation has also taken a negative toll on telecommunications services leading to limited data and voice services as many base stations have run out of fuel.
