Bayelsa Gov, Diri, Renders Scorecard at Fifth Anniversary, Shettima Applauds Him

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The fifth anniversary thanksgiving service of the Senator Douye Diri administration in Bayelsa State, yesterday, offered a platform for the governor to render his stewardship.

The well-attended event had prominent Nigerians, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, former President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience, Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Muftwang, and National Assembly members among others in attendance.

The thanksgiving service was held at the Ecumenical Centre, Igbogene, Yenagoa, and had renowned Ghanaian preacher, Dr. Otabil Mensah, as the guest speaker.

Diri, in his remarks, said Bayelsa was witnessing a transformation with the completion of several impactful projects as well as ongoing and newly-awarded projects.

He listed some to include the three big-ticket senatorial roads, particularly the Bayelsa Central road, which he said would get to Oporoma, headquarters of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, and inaugurated this year.

He also stated that with the support of the federal government, the second phase of the Nembe-Brass road Bayelsa East would come on stream while the ongoing first phase would be 90 per cent completed by the end of this year.

Diri noted that because of the abundant sporting talents in the state, his administration would construct a 25,000-seat FIFA-standard stadium, which he said would be flagged off by Jonathan on Monday.

Among others, the Bayelsa governor stated that the administration was addressing the issue of civil servants’ office accommodation by building an iconic nine-storey secretariat complex, adding that the contractor, Megastar Limited, had already been paid 50 per cent of the project cost.

In education, Diri said there had been a shift in paradigm to science and technical education and the government had built and equipped five science and technical colleges across the state. He directed the Commissioner for Education to ensure that the two local government areas yet to be covered were completed this year.

On epileptic power supply in the state, he said it would be a thing of the past when the 60mw gas turbines worth $60 million arrives the state, adding: “All of these projects run into billions of naira. Of course, the one that will make all of us happier and affects everyone is electricity.”

In his goodwill message, Shettima, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Dr. Tope Fasua, commended Bayelsa State’s significant development and economic progress.

He said the state was diversifying beyond crude oil and gas, which included agriculture, fishery and sports, that are crucial to the state’s prosperity.

He noted that the commencement of commercial flights at the Bayelsa International Airport was a significant infrastructural development.

The vice-president also applauded Diri for his reforms, including the announcement of a minimum wage of N80,000 for state workers.

He acknowledged the state’s impressive economic statistics with Bayelsa having the ninth highest GDP in Nigeria and the second highest GDP per capital after Lagos State.