Flooding: SEMA says Bayelsa worst hit — 1.3m people affected

The Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA), says no fewer than 1.3 million people in the state have been affected by flooding.

According to data released on Monday, the agency said 96 deaths have been recorded and about 1.2 million people are displaced.

Walamam Igrubia, BYSEMA chairman, said the collation of data is ongoing.

“As of November 4, 96 deaths were reported with Yenagoa local government area worst hit,” Igrubia.

“The flood affected a number of farmlands, school buildings, health structures, and other facilities. The flood also affected some 300 communities across the eight LGAs of the state.

“Preliminary reports and data available to SEMA and other agencies indicate that Bayelsa remained the most flood impacted among states in the country.”

He listed the worst affected areas as Biseni, Tombia-Ekpetiama, Tombia-Amassoma road, Akenfa, Akenpai, Igbogene, and Swali, all in Yenagoa LGA.

Others are Kaiama, Odi, Otuoke, Agbere, Odoni, Bulu-Oria, Agoro and Sagbama.

Bayelsa and the federal government have been at loggerheads over the state that has been the most severely affected by the recent flooding in the country.

On Thursday, Sadiya Umar Farouq, minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, said Jigawa is the state worst hit by flooding.

The minister had said Bayelsa is not among the 10 most-affected states.

But the Bayelsa government had disagreed, saying the data used by the ministry was “suspect and erroneous”.