The Bayelsa State government has established a Directorate of Erosion and Flood Control as a response to the challenge of perennial flood devastation and the impact of coastal erosion in the state.
The directorate is also saddled with the responsibility of proffering solutions to the twin natural disasters.
Governor Douye Diri, while inaugurating the members of the body at the Government House in Yenagoa, explained that the impact of erosion and annual flooding on the socio-economic lives of Bayelsans necessitated the setting up of the Directorate.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, Diri charged the members to put in their best and write their names in the history of the state.
He assured the directorate of his support to ensure that the objectives for establishing it were achieved, noting that the members were carefully selected based on their pedigree.
The governor said “You were carefully and thoroughly selected. I do not doubt in my mind that you fit in for this assignment. Yours is, therefore, an urgent invitation to save lives and property and write your names indelibly in the annals of Bayelsa State and Nigeria.
“You must address the threats of flooding and erosion with the utmost priority that they deserve. Developing sustainable flood management practices, introducing erosion control techniques and designing flood-resistant structures among other methods that can be adopted to mitigate the risks involved.
“The impact of flood and erosion is far-reaching and you can attest to that. We must collectively take action to address the immediate and long-term impact of these natural disasters.”
He also urged the people of the state to collectively work towards the control of flooding and erosion due to their negative consequences.
In his remarks, the director general of the directorate, Mr Omusco Omusco, a surveyor, assured that they would give their best to achieve the purpose of setting up of the body.
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