YENAGOA, BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA :In the past years of his administration as Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri has made tremendous efforts to improve the lot of the people by building infrastructures and implementing policies that will enhance their well-being as well as promote peace, unity and a rancuor Free State.
These policies has further opened up the investment windows of the state’s enormous opportunities. In areas such as exploration and exportation of mineral and natural resources, infrastructure and social amenities to the development of all the social amenities under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
After a resounding victory at the polls, the margin of his re-election victory as well as the recent supreme court Judgement which affirmed his victory in the November 11, 2023 governorship election, are ready pointers to the governor’s believe in democracy and the forthrightness of the judiciary to uphold the principles of fair play and justice in the country’s’ polity.
How did he revolutionize the state? Determined to press ahead despite the unnecessary fight from the opposition, his administration embarked on massive construction of bridges and several internal road projects along the Akaba-Okodi axis that linked Yenagoa to Ogbia local government area and other Senatorial zones of the state.
The 32km Yenagoa-Oporoma-Okubia Road, when completed will open up communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, while the longest bridge on that axis, stretches all through from Angiama across River Nun to Oporoma, the headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government area. Other completed bridges along that axis are located in Toru – Orua, Angalabiri, Ofoni, Ayamassa and Aleibiri communities.
In the agricultural sector, his administration has recorded multiple achievements in its partnership arrangement with the South -Korean Government. With this commitment, the South Korean government are ready to assist the state government with the provision of high yielding rice seedlings, tractors and training of the state engineers to manage the tractors.
His administration has also pledged more commitment to other sectors such as sports development, health, education, and effective human capital development.
The vision of his administration to reposition Bayelsa state as an investment destination in the south – south region will not only attract more strategic investments to the oil rich state, it will also create massive jobs and business opportunities for all the unemployed youths in the state.
To drive this vision, the governor recently attended a partnership meeting organised by AFREXIM Bank in Nassan, the capital of the Bahamas. The Governor who led a delegation to that meeting on invitation of the President of AFREXIM Bank, Professor Benedict Oramah , said his participation was borne out of his desire to lay a solid path for the attraction of massive investments to the state.
On the side-line of that meeting, the governor held top-level interactive sessions with the Bank’s President, Professor Benedict Oramah, Dangote Group President, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, M/D/CEO Bank of Industry, Dr Olasupo Olusi, as well as the founder/Chief Executive Officer, Dubai base Arise IIP Group, Mr Gagan Gupa. The meeting had in attendance, national and sub-national governments from across Africa and the Caribbean, political leaders and institutions from both regions as well as corporate organisations.
The culmination of that meeting gave governor Diri some rays of hope that these firms are willing to establish industries in Bayelsa State, particularly on the bases of Public Private Partnership (PPP), to address the issues of youth’s unemployment in the state.
The governor also signed a bilateral partnership agreement with the government of Trinidad and Tobago to develop the state’s industrial park and seaport at Agge in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
What more?. His administration has also invested massively on establishment of a state ministry of blue economy to tap into the prospects in the ocean.
There is also the continuous construction and rehabilitation of schools to significantly improve access to quality education and completion of new structures for pupils of the state. Others are the signed medical residency training law 2024, making it the first state in Nigeria with such beneficial law for resident doctors- among others.
During a recent state visit, the former NIMASA DG, Dr. Bashir Jamoh commended Gov. Diri for establishing the Ministry of Blue Economy to tap into the prospects in the ocean. In a letter addressed to the Governor, Dr. Jamoh, “Said the decision to create the Ministry of Blue economy was a step in the right direction, considering the enormous maritime resources open to the state and the strategic position of Bayelsa in relation to the Atlantic.”
“In that light, I cannot agree any less with your Excellency, that; “the wealth of Bayelsa State lies in the Atlantic Ocean”, and the sooner the vigorous exploration of same commences through the new ministry, the better for the citizens of the State and the country at large, bearing in mind the strategic position of the state in the Nigerian maritime domain. I can only at this point hope that other littoral states, who are yet to consider the creation of such ministry, will also take a cue from your Excellency in taking the giant stride”.
Describing Bayelsa as the heartbeat of the Niger Delta region, a former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, expressed awe at the uncommon transformation in the State. He went further to commend the governor for his pragmatic approach to fostering peace and unity in the Niger Delta region. He said. “I am glad to be home. I came here last in 2017 and coming in now, I am impressed with the level of development i saw. I thank you for all you are doing for our people and we pray that God continues to guide you.”
“This is the hearth land of the Niger Delta and let me recognise the contributions of Bayelsa people to the well-being of the region and i know you are not relenting. I encourage you to continue to perform. You did very well and that is why you got a second term. We all score you very high.”
A very fair assessment of his administration in the past years succinctly shows that he is a pragmatic leader driven by purpose to transform lives and bring uncommon transformation to the state. Governor Diri also assured Bayelsans, of steps taken to address the following in the State.
> Speedy completion of the ongoing employment of teachers in the state
> Building more low cost houses for the benefit of the people
> More Investment in sports.
ON GOING PROJECTS
> Nembe-Brass Road
> First bridge work in progress with sand- cement stabilization at kilometre 6.5 and
Sand filing at kilometre 7.5
>Construction of Glory Drive Phase 3 Road that will link new Yenagoa city at
Owopa.
>Educational, Residential projects for the Nigeria Air-Force (NAF) and
Completion of a boarding school at Zarama Community.
A primary school at the Air – Force base and training centre at Angalabiri Community.
>Local government reforms:
His administration has brought a new order to Local Government administration that has delivered on grass roots infrastructure in the State.
Funds remained exclusive for running of the respective Local Government Councils including regular payment of salaries and execution of key projects.
>On-going strategic road projects on the
Three Senatorial Districts.
> Angiama Oporoma Bridge.
> Onuegbum -Otuoke Road
> Bolou- Orua Okumbiri- toru-Ebemi Road.
> Akabba -Okodi Road
> Polaku0 Sagbagregia Road
> Bayelsa ICT Village Yenagoa
> Agbura- Ox bow Lake Road
> School to land Road
Governor Diri has bagged scores of prestigious awards within and outside the country. These includes the “Icon of Unity and Social Justice by the Ijaw National Congress of Americans in Houston, Texas. Others are the Face of Africa Leadership award as the “People’s Governor of the year” by the Triangle Media International in London, United Kingdom.
This publication is an account of the uncommon strides of the Senator Diri led administration over the past years and is rendered in fulfilment of his pledge to deliver the dividends of democracy to the good people of Bayelsa State.
