Bayelsans score Dickson low on water, security

By Ebiowei Lawal

YENAGOA- Stakeholders in Bayelsa State have scored the Governor Seriake Dickson administration below average in the areas of water supply and general security.

They berated the government for its inability to solve the challenge of acute water shortage in Yenagoa and its metropolis despite the fact that Bayelsa is adjudged to be 85 percent riverine.

The stakeholders comprising representatives of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Bayelsa Graduate Forum and youth-based groups, bemoaned the lack of access to potable water supply, stressing that residents depend on water vendors popularly called ‘Meruwa’ for their water needs.

They took turns to speak after the Commissioner for Water Resources, Nengi Tubonah, and Dickson’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, Boma Spero-Jack, made presentations on their agencies’ scorecards at the ongoing inter-ministerial briefing to mark the sixth anniversary of the Dickson administration in Yenagoa on Monday.

They also lamented frequent violent attacks on residents by bandits, kidnapping, assassination, armed robbery and sea robbery, extortion and arrest-for-bail by policemen and molestation by security agents without sufficient government intervention.

Peter Singabele, a former Head of Service of the state and chairman of the event, had earlier set the tone when he stated in his remarks that “In Bayelsa, there is water everywhere, but there is no water to drink”.

But he ,however, commended the government for constructing the Sagbama-Ekeremor Road that had been on the drawing board for 40 years, among other significant achievements.

During their separate presentations, Tubonah and Spero-Jack had enumerated the achievements of the administration in the two sectors and highlighted efforts taken to ensure potable water supply and install a robust security architecture of global standards.

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In particular, Spero-Jack explained that prior to 2012 “there was a culture of violence in Bayelsa” as corpses littered the streets of Yenagoa and cult-related attacks and clashes made residents live in fear and panic.

He said the establishment of the state’s security outfit, Doo Akpo, with over 100 operational vehicles had drastically reduced crime in Yenagoa, adding that the marine component of the security outfit would be set up to tackle crimes on the waterways.

He said the administration’s security policy was anchored on the Bayelsa Integrated Security Strategy (BISS) which had deployed security platforms such as the Command and Control Centre, K-9 Unit (special sniffer dogs) and Tetra Command and Control Terminal for crime bursting and detection, all domicile at Government House, and the installation of 250 CCTV cameras in Yenagoa and other major towns, among others.

On his part, Tubonah claimed that the administration had provided 20 water tankers to supply water to residents of Yenagoa to cushion the effect of water scarcity.

He, however, blamed the administration’s inability to carry out reticulation on paucity of funds and the expansion of the Isaac Boro Expressway which saw to the removal of water pipes previously laid.

The commissioner assured the stakeholders that the problem of water scarcity would be resolved as soon as revenue improves.

He explained that the welfare scheme was another addition to the prosperity agenda as over 1,200 youths and ward Liaison Officers were presently benefitting from the Government Empowerment Scheme

He commended the Government Special Project Committee, organisers of the event, for their diligence and cooperation in bringing the event to fruition and enjoined all the participating widows to register with the Contributory Health Commission to enable them benefit from the welfare scheme.

Earlier in a welcome address, Chief Festus Ochonogor, Senior Political Adviser and member of the committee said that the commencement of the welfare scheme for widows was meant to take care of the needs of this set of vulnerable Deltans, while Chief Isaac Akpoveta and Dr. Ben Nkechika, Chairman and Director-General, Contributory Health Commission said the commission is poised to ensure efficient and effective health care for the people of the state.