The Federal Government has appealed to Nigerians to ensure they do not block water channels as it moves to tackle flooding in the country.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the plea in a statement issued Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande.
“While the Federal Government and the state governments work together to ensure that we dredge, to ensure that we clear the waterway and we build the canals that are necessary, direct the water from the living areas, it is important also for us who live within the environment to ensure that we don’t block the drainages, we don’t block the estuaries and we don’t block the waterways so that there will be no flooding,” he said.
Professor Osinbajo, during a tour of some communities submerged by flood in Bayelsa and Rivers States on Friday, said the government would work towards finding a more lasting solution to the problem.
He explained that the government does not want to take steps that may not necessarily be helpful to people in the affected communities in the long run.
“We are committed to seeing that you are appropriately and well cared for,” he told some of the flood victims in Bayelsa.
He added, “So many have lost farmlands and means of livelihood, so we have to assist in providing some means of resettlement and that is one of the pledges that we are going to make today that we will support the state government and will support all of you in that resettlement effort because that is also more important.”
The Vice President said the actions taken by both the Federal and state governments were not prompted by any force.
According to him, it is not a favour but the duty of every government to take care of the people.
Professor Osinbajo commended the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, and the relevant agencies who took prompt action and efforts at rehabilitating the people in makeshift camps across the state.
He also assured the people of the support of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in whatever way to give them succour while in the camp.
Vice President Osinbajo disclosed that he was in the state on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said adequate plans must be put in place to assist the victims forced out of their homes by floods.
