- Extends break for workers, confirms flight resumption at Bayelsa airport
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has urged corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals to take a cue from the management of Azikel Group of Companies that pledged a donation of N350 million worth of food items to flood victims in the state.
He made the call when president of the firm, Dr Azibapu Eruani visited him at the Government House, Yenagoa, the state capital, and commended Eruani for identifying with the flood-ravaged people of the state, noting that it was a demonstration of his love for his people during their time of distress.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Daniel Alabrah, the governor 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 dearly 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 the Azikel Group today flew into Yenagoa through the Bayelsa Airport. We took some proactive steps on the road leading to the airport and it is now motorable and the airline operating here has also resumed today.”
He restated his call for the Federal Government to intervene in undertaking repair works on the portion of the East-West road ravaged by the flood at both axes of the bordering states of Rivers and Delta and urged the Azikel Group to expedite action on its modular refinery project to enhance supply of petroleum products to the state.
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Speaking, Eruani said his visit was to offer hope to the people since the state government alone cannot shoulder the challenges occasioned by the flood, adding that the massive devastation caused by this year’s floods informed his management’s decision to donate the food items to the victims.
In a related development, Governor Diri announced the extension of the break for civil servants in the state by another one week, following his last Tuesday announcement in a state broadcast of an initial break of one week to cushion the effect of the flooding on workers in the state.
He made the fresh pronouncement at Zarama Community where he stopped briefly in continuation of his tour of flood-impacted communities of Zarama and Okordia in Yenagoa Council and Kalama in Kolokuma/Opokuma Council of the state, where he 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 these trying times, noting that natural disasters were no respecter of political parties or ethnicity.
In their separate remarks, Commissioner for Education, Dr Gentle Emelah, and representative of Yenagoa Constituency 3 in the State House of Assembly, Ted Elemeforo, urged the people to see themselves as one and care for one another, noting that the governor’s visit was a demonstration of his exemplary leadership, as well as his compassion and love for the people of the state.
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