From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has urged corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals to take a cue from the management of Azikel Group of Companies that pledged a donation of N350 million worth of food items to flood victims in the state.

Senator Diri made the call on Monday when the president of the firm, Dr Azibapu Eruani, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, commended Eruani, a Bayelsa native, for identifying with the flood-ravaged people of the state, noting that it was a demonstration of his love for his people in their time of distress.

His words “You are the first person from our state to visit us at your level and capacity and that shows that you hold your people in your heart.”

Diri, who also spoke on the state’s airport road being threatened by the flood, said the government took some urgent steps to rehabilitate portions of the road linking the facility and that the United Nigeria Airlines resumed commercial flights on Monday.

“Let me let Nigerians know that the airport is not cut off. Our airport is functional. That is why the Azikel Group today flew into Yenagoa through the Bayelsa airport.

“We took some proactive steps on the road leading to the airport. That road is now motorable and the airline operating here has also resumed today.”

Governor Diri restated his call on the federal government to intervene in undertaking repair works on the portion of the East-West road ravaged by the flood at both axes of the bordering states of Rivers and Delta.

He also urged the Azikel Group to expedite action on its modular refinery project in order to enhance the supply of petroleum products to the state.

In his remarks, Dr Azibapu Eruani said his visit was to offer hope to the people since the state government alone cannot shoulder the challenges occasioned by the flood.

He said the massive devastation caused by this year’s floods informed his management’s decision to donate the food items to the victims.

In a related development, the governor announced the extension of the break for civil servants in the state by another week.

Diri’s extension of the workers’ break was announced at Zarama community during his tour

of flood-impacted communities of Zarama and Okordia in Yenagoa Local Government Area and Kalama in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.