The Bayelsa Government on Thursday donated N15 million to the Flood Outreach Committee set up by churches in the state.
Gov. Seriake Dickson announced the donation while interacting with Christian leaders in the state at the Greater Evangelism World Crusade Church, Opolo in Yenagoa.
He said the donation would mitigate the impact of the flood on the victims and expressed delight at the support and concern shown by churches.
He explained that the donation would assist the committee to complement the effort of the state emergency response organisation.
Dickson commended the Special Assistant on Religious Affairs, Rev. Samuel John-Peters, for convening the meeting at a time when government needed the support and prayers of the church.
He said the donation demonstrated his administration’s readiness to sustain the existing government-church collaboration to the service of humanity.
He assured the committee that government would ensure the prompt release of the funds.
?Dickson directed the special assistant to liaise with him and promised to direct the Commissioner for Finance, to expedite the release of funds.
“The fund is to enable the committee to procure relief materials such as food, drugs and other essentials, ’’ he said.
He urged the committee to independently distribute the relief materials to be procured to the victims.
The governor charged the churches to mobilise their members who had the requisite skills, especially the medical personnel, to provide humanitarian services to flood victims.
Earlier, John-Peters had explained that the meeting was convened for Christian leaders to seek God’s intervention and discuss further pragmatic steps to address the flood menace.
He assured the governor of their support and prayers, adding that the churches had donated 250 bags of rice, 50 blankets and cash to various relief camps in the state.