Diri Clarifies On Flood Donations, Orders Fresh Distribution Of Items To Affected Communities

The Bayelsa State Government at the weekend acknowledged donations from some international agencies, state governments, political parties and their presidential candidates, individuals and corporate organisations in the wake of the 2022 floods that ravaged the state.

 Governor Douye Diri, who disclosed the donors during the weekly state executive council meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa, said the government received donations in cash, foodstuff and other materials from well-meaningful individuals and corporate organisations during and after the floods.

 In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Daniel Alabrah, the governor restated his administration’s commitment to transparency He listed the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, the Akwa Ibom and Lagos state governments, which donated N100 million and N50 million, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar gave N55 million, while his Social Democratic Party (SDP) counterpart, Adewole Adebayo donated N10 million.

 Diri explained that the president of the Azikel Group, Dr. Azibapu Eruani has started redeeming his pledge of N350 million worth of items, the Chief Executive Officer of Century Energy Group, Chief Ken Etete gave N50 million, the South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria donated $100,000, Access Bank (N100 million), Zenith Bank (N20 million), Linkage Assurance (N20 million0, Sterling Oil (N15 million), Paache Construction (N10 million) and AITEO (N50 million).

 Organisations that donated items are the Tompolo Foundation, which gave 440 cartons of noodles, 595 bags of 50kg rice, 35 jerry cans of 25kg palm oil, 180 cartons of groundnut oil, 40 bags of 50kg garri, 20 bags of 100kg beans and 500 tubers of yam.

 Others are Globus Bank (70 bags of 50kg rice and 100 cartons of noodles), Stanbic Bank (146 units of 4×6’ mattresses, 148 pillows and 150 plastic buckets), Julius Berger (100 bags of 50kg rice), Redeemed Christian Church of God (100 bags of 50kg rice), Brass Petrochemical and Fertiliser Company (100 bags of 50kg rice, 100 bags of 50kg garri and 100 bags of 100kg beans).

 The donors also include CCECC Nigeria Limited, Enerco Construction Limited, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Office, Bayelsa Elders Council and Dr. Kombowei Benson.

 The governor directed the task force on flood mitigation and management and the Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA) to immediately resume the distribution of items in the warehouse to all affected communities in the state.

 He also assured that the donations will be prudently used and urged the state’s people to exercise patience with distributing the relief materials to the victims.