Bayelsa State Governor,
Hon. Seriake Dickson, says paucity of funds is the reason for the delay in the commencement of real construction work on the proposed second flyover at the Etegwe area of Yenagoa, the state capital.
The Governor, who spoke through a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, however, said other imperatives preparatory to the successful take-off of the project were being addressed.
According to the statement, the state government has paid about five hundred million naira as compensation to residents and property owners, whose properties are going to be impacted by the project, which the governor described as masterfully designed by construction giant, Julius Berger, to ease traffic and add to the aesthetic beauty of the city.
Hon Dickson, who reassured Bayelsans of his administration’s commitment to completing both inherited and new projects in the state, noted that, necessary steps including prioritisation of projects were being taken to finish and put them to use with a view to raising the people’s living standards.
He said: “ I have already paid five hundred million naira compensation to residents in that Etegwe area, believing Julius Berger, that was given the contract should have started, but we discovered as our finances were going down, we had to tell them to focus on the NNPC Flyover first, so that, if our finances improve or we are able to get more money, we will now start the Etegwe project.
Throwing more light on the funding of the projects, he said that his political opponents were envious of the achievements of his government adding “ these are projects designed, awarded, paid for and supervised by our government, and hopefully, will be completed and put to use by our people.”
“ And yet people who want to contest election, who have failed before, that are scared of what we are doing and with our performance won’t be able to raise their head. They come to spread one story or the other after paying small boys ten thousand naira and send them to stay in buses and market places to talk. But, let me assure you that, we will do that flyover too, and it will add to the beauty of the city as well as decongest traffic. That is the plan, because we are in a hurry to see development,” he said.