The Special Assistant to the Deputy Senate President on Political Matters, Mr. Raymos Guanah, on Monday presented relief materials to the flood victims.
He said that the items were meant to assuage the present suffering of the people of the area as a result of the flood ravaging some parts of the country of which Patani local government area is highly impacted.
Mr. Guanah, who was represented by Mr. Joseph Ekiyor, the Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the local government area, said that presenting the relief materials which included food items was a way of identifying with the people in their present situation.
Guanah said that the total losses in the LGA would be in excess of N500 million in farm lands, fishing nets, fishing traps and household property damaged by the flood .
Guanah, a former Commissioner for Lands and Survey in Delta, called on the state government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to open up several culverts along the Patani/Uzere road being constructed by the NDDC, adding that this would make flow of the flood water easy in the area.
He also used the opportunity to call on the state Government, Federal Government, NDDC and the ecological funds office to take urgent steps to address the coastal erosion problem in Abari community, adding that, ”it is fast devastating Abari community which may be completely washed into the river if no urgent action is taken.”
The Aide also stressed the need to construct foreshore walls and embankments in the communities by the river to forestall the recurrent flooding.
Responding, the Chairman of Patani local government council, Mr. Perez Omoun, commended the gesture of Deputy Senate President’s Aide, who has never relented in supporting the people anytime he was called upon.
He promised that the items would be equitably distributed to the affected persons and advised relevant government agencies to urgently address the coastal erosion issue in Abari.
Guanah, who is a former chairman of Patani local government area, hails from Abari community in Patani Local Government Area of the State.
The items include 50 cartons of noodles, tubbers of yams and
bags of salt.
