Bayelsa State Government, Federal Government and relevant stakeholders have been urged to make adequate plans on time to ensure that residents are evacuated from the flood prone areas as another heavy flood comes in a few months’ time.

These topics formed the discussion in Yenagoa within the weekend during a three days stakeholders meeting with the topic strengthening environmental potency and accountability in governance facilitated by stakeholders democracy network (SDN).

Among other issues discussed were the issue of transportation and the abandoned cardiovascular specialist hospital located around Okolibiri area of the state.

Speaking on the negative effects of last year’s flooding, Emmanuel Egede, the community development chairman of Otuoke enumerated the problems that last year’s flood came with, including loss of lives and properties, high rate of crimes, destruction of farm lands, high cost of living, poor health condition among others.

While he made some suggestions as another flood rolls in in a few months’ time like the opening of canals, building of IDP camps, construction of dikes and seawalls, early provision of relief materials among others, he also added that “The government should not share relief materials after when the flood is almost over.

Also another community stakeholder, Membra Tariworio Nelson, who spoke on the negative effects of transportation in the state stated that the problem of transportation system causes increase in goods and services, high cost of living, poor regulation of transportation system among others.