The Delta State Government has assured Internally Displaced persons, (IDPs), who have been relocated to camps as a result of the recent floods in the state, that adequate security and sanitary as well as other welfare needs will be adequately provided, even as it has confirmed the approval of 400 million naira for the state Students Assistance Scheme [Bursary] for about 32, 000 verified students for the 2013/2014 academic year and stressed that that the scheme will be purged of all shady and fraudulent practices.
These assurances were given at a press briefing after the Executive Council Meeting [EXCO] which took place at Government House, Asaba on 06-10-15, by the combined team of the Commissioners for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah, Higher Education, Engr. Jude Sinebe and the Executive Secretary, Scholarship Board, Comrade Elijah Ologe, even as they added that the bursary award to 31,859 verified students of the state origin in higher institutions, was done after a biometric verification exercise of the list by the Scholarship Board, which was ongoing and subsequent payments would be based on the verified and realistic figure of students obtained by the Scholarship Board.
Speaking directly to the issue, the Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Engineer Jude Sinebe, also disclosed that the state government would blacklist students and institutions involved in sharp practices and shady deals in the Student Special Assistance Scheme [Bursary] and urged the National Association of Delta State Students [NADESSTU] to cooperate with government in the verification exercise to rid the scheme of sharp practices.
Delta State Information Commissioner Mr. Patrick Ukah, while addressing the issue of the recent flood in the state, stated that EXCO had approved the setting up of Internal Displaced Persons [IDPs] camps across the state to cater for those sacked by the flood in the affected communities and announced that the state has witnessed its first casualty, an 11 year old boy, who drowned from the flood in Okpai community.
Ukah informed journalists that the state flood committee was working assiduously to ensure that those areas already impacted were relocated to higher grounds and IDP camps to avoid further casualties and specifically explained that presently Ndokwa East, Oshimili South, Ughelli South, Patani and Bomadi Local Government Areas have been impacted by the flood, even as he appealed to the people of these areas to relocate immediately to the IDP Camps already opened, while other areas were being monitored.
“Certain areas of the state have been submerged by the flood, and Internal Displaced Persons camps have been opened in Ashaka and Utagba-Ogbe [Kwale] for people from Ndokwa East and Asaba Stadium for people from Oshimili South especially Oko communities and Infant Jesus areas.
“Camps have also been opened in Ughelli and Bomadi, we need to continue to sensitise our people on the need to relocate early from flood prone areas to avoid disaster. I want to assure that everything needed at the camps have been provided and security agencies and other non-governmental organisations are on hand to handle issues at the camps, also more camps will be opened in areas impacted as the need arises”, Ukah said, adding that, the old issues of security and sanitary challenges, which were reported the last time the floods visited Delta State in 2012, would be adequately addressed this time around.
