Ijaw National Congress: Threatens court action against FG, cautions Minister, Farouq

The Ijaw National Congress INC says it has concluded plans to sue the Federal Government over what it described as negligence and failure to build the Dasin Hausa dam to checkmate flooding, which has resulted in an unimaginable loss to its people.

The Ijaw group accused the Federal Government of ineptitude, a situation it noted led to flooding and its negative consequences.

It claimed the floods of this year caused the Ijaws of Bayelsa, Delta and Edo State great losses.

The INC National Publicity Secretary, Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha gave the notion while chatting with newsmen in Yenogoa.

Reacting to comments credited to Sadiya Umar Farouq, the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, that Jigawa State was more impacted by flood rather than Bayelsa which is not among the ten most impacted states in Nigeria, the group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to caution her.

The INC said the minister displayed complete ignorance and bias toward the people of Bayelsa State.

“How can she sit in the comfort of her office without a visit to any of the affected states and make an assertion, is that right?

“If the glaring devastation occasioned by the flooding in Bayelsa and other Ijaw Council Areas of Delta State could be twisted by Farouq, it shows her reflection of arrogance and callous disregard to issues about the Niger Delta region and its people, by the federal government.

“Since we view this as deliberate negligence and utter disregard for the lives of our citizens living in the lower Niger by the Federal Government of Nigeria, mere acceptance of the conventional relief materials, such as rice bags, and mattresses, that would not make any meaningful impact on these victims is absurd and unacceptable.

The INC will approach the Court for Compensation, ” the group insisted.