Bayelsa State Government has constituted a task force to mitigate the effects of flooding in the state.

The Committee which has the Ministry of Environment, Works and Infrastructure, Health, Lands, Housing and Urban Development as well as the Commissioners representing the three Senatorial Districts and State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA) was set up during the weekly State Executive Council meeting presided over by the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Iselema Gbaranbiri, said the taskforce would identify and inspect areas ravaged by flood as well as provide succor to victims.

He also said the taskforce would relocate affected persons to higher grounds and provide relief materials for them.

Also, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Moses Teibowei, said the government is aware of the flood situation in the state and set up the Committee to alleviate the suffering of the people.

According to him, beyond providing short term relief for victims, the Committee has the responsibility of proffering medium and long term solutions to the issue of flooding in the state.

Mr. Teibowei said as part of efforts to reduce the impact of flooding, government has built flood barriers in some communities, which the officials will assess before taking a decision to either replicate or improve on them in other parts of the state.

He also disclosed that the Executive Council approved the award of the contract for another twenty-four kilometer road project from Toru-Orua community to Yenagoa, to enable commuters from Ekeremor, Toru-Orua and neighbouring communities in Sagbama and Ekeremor local government areas drive through the East-West road to Yenagoa to ease the stress of getting to the state capital.

Describing the road as crucial to the state, Mr. Teibowei said the project is estimated at thirty-seven point four billion naira.