EDHA calls for relocation of flood victims ……wades into Tipper Drivers’ strike

EDHA calls for relocation of flood victims
             ……wades into Tipper Drivers’ strike 

Edo State House of Assembly has adopted a resolution calling on the relevant government agencies including NEMA; SEMA to as a matter of urgency temporarily relocate flood victims living the River Niger bank, even as they have called for a meeting with striking Tipper Drivers today.

The resolution also directed the Chairman of Esan South East Local Government Council to assist in providing temporary sites for the relocation of such affected communities.

The adoption of the resolution was sequel to the presentation of a matter of urgent Public Importance by Hon. Festus Edughele that was considered on the floor of parliament yesterday during plenary session.

Hon. Festus Edughele member representing Esan South-East Constituency in his matter of urgent public importance said that the rise in the water level of the River Niger owing to the prediction of heavy rainfall by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency; has left many farmlands, home completely destroyed.

The lawmaker further said that the rise in water level of the River Niger has over-flown its banks as roads along coastal communities have been cut off.  Communities along the coastal line which includes Illushi, Ifeku and Amalu communities are worse hit by the overflooding.

Hon. Festus Edughele while appealing for urgent intervention of the relevant agencies of government to avert a reoccurrence of the 2012 flooding, in which the River Niger broke its water bank and overflown coastal communities along its line leaving destruction of lives and property in its wake.

Parliament in its adoption of the consequential motion also called on Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, NEMA, SEMA and the Chairman of Esan South East Local Government Area to assist in the welfare of affected flood victims during the period of relocation.
It further charged the Edo State Ministry of Information and Orientation to embark on a massive enlightenment campaign on the need for the communities to be temporarily relocated to avert impending disaster.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror has directed all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to submit 30 copies of their budgetary performance brief to the office of the Majority Leader on or before October 19 2015 ahead of the State Ministerial briefing.

Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror has also called on stakeholders and members of the State Tipper Drivers Association to meet with executive members of the Edo State House of Assembly at the Rear Admiral Mike Akhigbe Hall at 10 a.m. today towards breaking the impasse between the tipper drivers and the State Government on revenue generation in order restore the economic potential of the state in that regards.