From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has ordered the closure of government owned and private primary and secondary schools in the state as part of ways to mitigate the effect of flood.
According to top officials of the Ministry of Education, the closure which is for six weeks is to ensure that the state government monitors the flood situation between October and early November.
In a statement signed by Agala Damini Douglas, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics on behalf of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, said the flood break is from October 3rd to November 11th.
However Ministry of Education exempted some public schools from the October 3rd flood break, moving theirs to Monday 10th October 2022 due to a visit of officials from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Abuja and Ministry of Education personnel for Data validation exercise in the schools.
The schools are Migrant fishermen Children School, Ofonugbene in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Nembe State School, Igbeta-Ewo-Ama, St. Luke’s school 1 Nembe, State Primary School Etukekiri-Nembe, State School 1 Opu-Nembe, and Community Primary School Ibo Ibo.
Others are Ogbia State School 2 Anyama, State School I Elebele, State School Emadike, Community Primary School, Eboh, Idema, State School Oloibiri, State School 2 Otuasega, and State School I Otuasega. Also included are Ogoroama Primary School Okolobiri, Model Primary School, Ovom, Community Primary School 1 Zarama, Community Primary School, Nyambiri and Community Primary school Azikoro, Yenagoa Local Government Area.
Investigation reveals communities along the East- West road especially Adagbari in Sagbama Local Government Area have been seriously affected with houses already submerged.
Communities like Akenfa, Igbogene, Tombia and Obogoro already feeling the heat of the rising water levels.
Also in Ogbia Local Government Area, a football tournament organised by Sunday Iworiso Foundation had to be suspended because of the flood situation.
Findings from the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment and the Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency, (BYSEMA) indicated that it has met with Governor Douye Diri toplan its next line of action to ensure residents of the state are not badly affected.