By Kamsi Anayo
The Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA), says 96 deaths have been recorded and about 1.2 million people displaced by floods in the state.
These figures were released in a report from the agency on Monday.
Walamam Igrubia, BYSEMA chairman, said the collation of data was still ongoing.
“As of Nov. 4, 96 deaths were reported with Yenagoa local government area worst hit.
“The floods affected a number of farmlands, school buildings, health structures, and other facilities.
“The floods also affected some 300 communities across the eight LGAs of the state.
“Preliminary reports and data available to SEMA and other agencies indicate that Bayelsa remained the most floods impacted among states in the country.”
He listed the worst affected areas as Biseni, Tombia-Ekpetiama, Tombia-Amassoma road, Akenfa, Akenpai, Igbogene, and Swali, all in Yenagoa LGA.
Others are Kaiama, Odi, Otuoke, Agbere, Odoni, Bulu-Oria, Agoro and Sagbama.
Bayelsa and the Federal Government have disagreed over the state most severely affected by the recent flooding in the country.
On Thursday, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, said Jigawa is the worst hit by flooding.
She also said Bayelsa was not among the 10 most-affected states.
The minister’s comments provoke widespread condemnation from various bodies including the Bayelsa government.
They described the statistics used by the ministry as “suspect and erroneous.”
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria and Representative of the Secretary General, Mr. Matthias Schmale, who led a delegation comprising officials of the global body, the World Health Organisation and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources on a courtesy to the State described state flood disaster a crisis of major proportion.
He likened the devastation caused by the flood to that of Pakistan which attracted global attention.