Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday flew over some parts of Bayelsa State to asses the flood situation, describing it as a major disaster.
Osinbajo made the assertion when he, Governor Seriake Dickson and some Federal Government officials visited internally displaced persons camps in the state on Friday.
The VP was accompanied on the visit by the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibrin, Director General of National Emergency Management Agency, Mustapha Maihaja, Senator Magnus Abe and former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva.
Osinbajo said they were in the state for an assessment of the impact of the flood in Bayelsa.
The Vice President, who explained that they were in the state at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari, expressed shock and pledged the Federal Government’s support in the area of resettling the IDPs who have lost their homes and livelihoods.
He said, “You are obviously going through a lot of stress but despite that, you are still able to smile. On our way here, we flew over some of the communities affected by the flood. We saw so many areas affected by the flood, many homes, farmlands are under water.
“We saw clearly that it is a major disaster indeed. We were able to see that there is a major disaster in Bayelsa, especially in Yenagoa. We express our sincere sympathies to you. It is a sad development. We are glad we were able to respond as quickly as possible.
“We will support as much as possible with the National Emergency Management Agency which is working hard to ensure that we give as much succour and provision of tents, mattresses, food, mosquito nets and all that are required.
“In the next few weeks, many will be returning home where many have lost their homes, farmlands, and livelihoods. We will support Bayelsa state government in the resettlement efforts which is more important.
