Bayelsa: Gov Diri opens up on what he has spent on flood incident

The Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has revealed that the recent flood, which ravaged his state, has cost the state government about N2 billion so far.

The governor of the oil-rich state disclosed this on Thursday morning while featuring on the Arise TV morning show programme.

Recall that Governor Diri had accused the Federal Government of paying lip service to the flooding situation ravaging the state, especially in response to providing relief materials to cushion the effects

The governor explained: “What we have spent so far, I have not asked for the books. It would be between the neighbourhood of N1.5 to N2bn or thereabouts. When I ask for the books, then I will get the total expenditure; because beyond the food and relief items, as I have pointed out, the medicals and pharmaceuticals are differently also attended to and our movement again to these communities and what we also give to them.”

He also revealed that since the beginning of the flood, he had not left Bayelsa, adding that he has set up a flood management committee designated to certain areas, particularly within the state capital, Internally-Displaced Person camps and in the local government areas.

“So by the time we all put together, we will make it public how much the state government has expended so far in this natural calamity that has happened to my state.

“For those who have so far come to give us succour by way of pledge, contributions and donations, the few I can remember now are: The Governor of Akwa Ibom State was here and gave us a cheque of N100m; the former vice president and the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was here, and he gave us cash of N50m; then the presidential candidate of the Labour party, LP, Peter Obi was here, and he gave the IDP camp in Yenagoa, to be precise, N2m for their feeding and also promised to contribute to the state government in taking care of them.

“Then I also remember that the Governor of Lagos State wrote officially to me and also promised to donate N50m.

“Godbless Azibapu of Azikel group of companies, who is a son of the soil, also visited us and promised to give food item donations worth a sum of N350m. Please, I would like to emphasize that, it was a pledge of a donation worth N350m and the moment those donations come in, we will make it public.

“I think so far these are the donations we have so far received,” he recounted.