By Dianabasi Effiiong

Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa says his administration has brought a lot of transformation to the state with the completion of several impactful projects, including ongoing and newly awarded projects.

He made this known at the fifth-anniversary thanksgiving service as the State Governor, held at the Ecumenical Centre, Yenogoa, on Thursday.

Diri said included the three big-ticket senatorial roads, particularly the Bayelsa Central road, to reach Oporoma, the headquarters of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

He said 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 December 2025.

Diri noted that due to the abundant sporting talents of Bayelsa, his administration would construct a 25,000-seat FIFA-standard stadium, which would be flagged off by former President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday.

He said that his administration was addressing the issue of office accommodation for civil servants by building an iconic nine-storey secretariat complex.

According to Diri, the contractor, Megastar Limited, has already been paid 50 per cent of the project cost.

Diri said that his administration had been encouraging Science and Technical Education and had built and equipped five science and technical colleges across the state.

He said he had directed the Commissioner for Education to ensure that the two local government areas yet to be covered were completed this year.

He said that the epileptic power supply in the state would be remedied when the 60mw gas turbines worth $60 million were installed to boost supplies in the state.

“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.

“We have agreed with a private company that is supplying us 60mw of gas turbines, big enough to serve not only Yenagoa but the whole of Bayelsa State.

“We are expecting the gas turbines to arrive in Nigeria in the next two months, and I can promise you without looking back that by the end of this year, we will have a 24-hour independent power supply,” he said.

In his goodwill message, Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by his Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Dr Tope Fasua, commended the state’s significant development and economic progress.

According to him, the state has diversified beyond crude oil and gas, including agriculture, fishery, and sports, which are crucial to the state’s prosperity.
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He said that the commencement of commercial flights at the Bayelsa International Airport was a significant infrastructure development.
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‎The Vice President also lauded the governor for his reforms, including the announcement of a minimum wage of N80,000 for civil servants.
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‎He also acknowledged the state’s impressive economic statistics, with Bayelsa having the ninth-highest GDP in Nigeria and the second-highest GDP per capita after Lagos State.

In a sermon with the theme: ‘Wisdom’, a Ghanaian cleric, Dr. Otabil Mensah, said that although, in the global ranking,
the most deprived, underdeveloped nations were in Africa, Africa also remained the most endowed and spiritually blessed continent.
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‎Mensah said it was not right for Africans to pray mostly against fellow humans, adding that true wisdom rather build than destroy.

Mensah, who was the Guest speaker at the anniversary thanksgiving, also urged Africans to use wisdom to transform the immense wealth God had deposited in their land.

Prominent Nigerians, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, former President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, represented by his Deputy, Monday Onyeme, Gov. Caleb Muftwang of Plateau and National Assembly members, among others also attended.

Other were the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, former Military Governor of old Rivers State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, and former Governor of Rivers, Chief Rufus Ada-George.

Two former Military administrators of Bayelsa, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (Rtd) and Col. Edor Obi (Rtd) as well as former Acting Governor Werinipere Seibarugu and former Deputy Governor Peremobowei Ebebi, also attended.

Senators Sunday Katung, Konbowei Benson, and Benson Agadaga as well as Bayelsa House of Reps members – Dr. Fred Agbedi, Marie Ebikake, Rodney Ambaiowei, and Oforji Oboku, also attended.

Also in attendance were the Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere; National Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Dr. Boladei Igali; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei; Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo; the Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom, King Edmond Daukoru; the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku; and other top government functionaries.

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