Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has asked anyone eyeing the office of Governor of the state to prayerfully seek the face and approval of God, saying only a truly God-fearing individual can succeed him.
Speaking during the state’s 15th thanksgiving at the Ecumenical Centre, Igbogene-Yenagoa on Monday, the Governor stated that nobody can say no to anyone okayed by God, emphasizing that the State had been handed over to God.
While stating that God will always have the final say on affairs of the state, the Governor stressed the need for people of the state to remain united, tolerant and peaceful, saying that it was the only way Bayelsa can witness the much needed development.
He stated the commitment of his administration to continue to impact on the lives of the people positively and that it had the political will to transform the state, which he said had one of the best environments for development.
While commending the people of the State for standing by his administration, Diri said, “All who want to be Governor, go and seek the face of God. Anyone who wants to be Governor must be God-fearing. If God said yes, nobody can say no, not even me.
“Let us continue to worship God. Let us be tolerant and patient as we will become victorious at the end of the day. The Bible itself recognises that it is good to give thanks to the Lord. Today we came to say thank you Father.
“As I keep saying, those of us who were born in Yenagoa or know Bayelsa of old can see the difference today. It is enough to give thanks. We’ve one of the best environments in Nigeria and with the political will we are bringing development to our people. “Dear people of Bayelsa, I thank you also for your support and for standing by this government.”
In a sermon, the guest preacher and former state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Very Rev. Joseph Opelema, who spoke on the theme: “Called to be Good Christians and Good Citizens”, said Christians hold dual citizenship – citizens of the church and citizens of the society. society.
Drawing his message from Matthew 22:15-22, where the Pharisees attempted to trap Jesus on payment of tax, he said His response: “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God”, underscored the call for Christians to be good citizens.
According to the Catholic cleric, the Bible passage, which he said had often been misinterpreted, emphasised that Christians must bring the virtues of sacrifice, prudence, accountability, justice, love, care and charity to bear wherever they find themselves, especially in public office.
He lamented that there were many worshippers today but few live the Christian life, stressing that Jesus called on believers to be witnesses, salt of the earth, light of the world, and to use any public position in Bayelsa and Nigeria to serve and witness to Christ.
Rev. Opelema described Bayelsa as abundantly blessed with natural and human resources, full potential. good weather, land and rivers, capable of making it a tourism hub in Nigeria, adding that with a God-fearing leader, the state would in no distant time attain its full potential.
High points of the service were the unveiling of a book: “Lively Oracle” containing the scriptural declarations of the governor during morning devotions, and song ministrations by various Gospel artistes.
Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Peter Akpe, and former Deputy Governors of the state, Rt. Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi and Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd.), as well as other top dignitaries attended the event.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, CAN, Bayelsa State Chapter and Conference President, Baptist Conference, Bayelsa State, Rev. Abili Samuel Abili has described the State as “God’s shining light”.
The CAN Chairman, who spoke with newsmen shortly after the 15th annual thanksgiving anniversary of the State at the ecumenical centre in Yenagoa, said Bayelsa exemplifies its love for God through the yearly thanksgiving, noting that God would continually reign his blessings on the State.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has dismissed reports on social media that a bridge project under construction in Otuogori community, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, had collapsed
The Commission said an incident occurred at the construction site of the 600-metre Otuogori-Otuegwe Bridge, but insisted that the bridge itself had not been constructed and therefore could not have collapsed.
Addressing journalists during an inspection of the project, the NDDC Director, Bayelsa State Office, Engr. Godknows Alamieyeseigha, described the reports as misleading.
“We don’t have a bridge yet because we are still at the stage of crossing the beams. So, no bridge has collapsed.
“However, there was an incident at the construction site, and we are assessing the circumstances surrounding what happened”, he said.
Alamieyeseigha dismissed suggestions that the incident resulted from structural failure, describing it as an accident during construction.
He expressed confidence that the construction company would address issues identified during the assessment and complete the project.
He also said no bridge had collapsed in Bayelsa State or any of the nine Niger Delta states.
The NDDC Director said the Commission’s current board and management, led by Chairman Chiedu Ebie, and Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, had prioritised quality assurance in project execution.
He added that NDDC engineers and independent consultants regularly inspected project sites across the region to ensure compliance with approved engineering designs and standards.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the construction firm, Mr. Christian Emiezor, assured that the Otuogori-Otuegwe Bridge was being executed in line with high construction standards.
He explained that the project was still at the preparatory stage, with work focused on positioning the beams before the construction of the main bridge structure.
According to him, the incident occurred during the launching of the beams, which were being positioned on their bearings.
“We are constructing a 600-metre bridge, but as you can see, we have not constructed a bridge yet. What you are seeing is just preparations for the bridge”, Emiezor said.
He described the incident as a minor accident, explaining that a beam resting on a bearing but not yet secured could slide during the positioning process.
“What was going on was the launching of the beams, and in the process, there was a slight accident. Because the beam was resting on a bearing and had not been secured, it could slide. That was what happened”, he said.
Emiezor added that safety measures at the site prevented casualties. “The good thing is that, with the safety measures put in place, no life was lost”, he said.

Enoch Epelle

The second edition of the Niger Delta Blue Economy Investment Summit is expected to attract more than $600 million in investment capital into Nigeria’s blue economy sector.
The three-day summit, scheduled for March 18 to 20, 2027, will be held at Movela Hotels, Warri, Delta State.
Co-convener of the summit, Dr. Uche Igwe, disclosed in an interview with journalists, saying the annual event would bring together key decision-makers and operators to transform the Niger Delta’s blue economy potential into viable investment opportunities.
He said participants would be drawn from the government, the organised private sector, academia, civil society, traditional institutions and community groups across the Niger Delta and beyond.
Igwe said the maiden edition, held in February 2026, had recorded progress through partnerships and the identification of feasible projects requiring funding and further development.
“Since our maiden edition last February, a lot has been achieved. We now have partners who understand our region and who have identified several feasible projects.
“It is now time to go to the next level of ensuring that such projects are made bankable and the necessary funds required are mobilised to ensure that projects leave the drawing board and hit the ground running”, he said.
He commended the Delta State Government led by the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, for providing what he described as an enabling environment for investment in the sector.
According to him, the second summit will focus on developing investment pipelines and exploring innovative financing mechanisms, including blue bonds, to attract capital into the sector.
“With the feedback we have got so far, more than $600 million of investment capital will enter the blue economy sector through our modest efforts”, Igwe added.
Also speaking, Senior Consultant at Gadfly Consulting Limited, Mr. Philemon Oghenedoro Adjekuko, called for stronger collaboration among relevant government agencies and private sector operators to support Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
He said the blue economy could contribute significantly to the country’s economic expansion if stakeholders moved beyond discussions to coordinate action and investment.
Adjekuko, who said he had spent the past three months engaging stakeholders as part of a study on blue finance, expressed optimism about the sector’s capacity to drive economic diversification and strengthen the non-oil economy.
“As someone who has been speaking to stakeholders in the last three months conducting a study omy,” he said.

Enoch Epelle