Major roads and streets in Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital were on Thursday, September 4, flooded following hours of rain which also disrupted socio-economic activities in the oil rich state.
The rain started on Wednesday night and continued all through Thursday morning, making it impossible for most people to leave their houses for the day’s work.
It was noticed that most shops and other business outfits along the flooded streets remained under lock and key as some motorists and commuters found it hard to move around the city center.
The lack of adequate drainage system and the blocking of the few existing ones with dirts and garbage made the flood situation even worse, as the rain water refused to move along the gutters and drainages.
READ ALSO : Bayelsa Residents Lament Havoc Caused by Flooding
A civil servant, who was seen taking shelter after being caught up in the rain, lamented that he cannot even go to work as he was already soaked to his underwear.
“See me na, after dressing for work, I waited for a little while and when I thought that the rain had stopped, I came out only for it to start again. So, I decided to run inside this place to hide from the rain but unfortunately I am wet up to my boxers”.
Ms Lydia Meni, a shop owner around the Okaka axis said the rain has ruined her business for the day, noting that it will take up to 24 hours for the flood to dry up when the rain completely stops for she to reopen.
She said: “This rain started at night and this morning everywhere flood. No way to open my shop. Today, and infact tomorrow too is a loss for me because the flood will not dry up immediately until after one or two days. This is what we experience everytime and yet no solution.
READ ALSO : Bayelsa Govt Urged to Prepare for Impending Flood
Our correspondent observed that most Commissioners were not also not in their offices, with their staff attributing it to the rain, which held them back while some of the few civil servants who were sighted at their duty posts were busy sleeping and snoring.
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