Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has stressed the need for the implementation of critical research findings of individuals and agencies as an integral part of national development strategy in the country.
Senator Diri made the call when students of Senior Course 44 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.
The Governor, who spoke through his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, also called for the establishment of a special security outfit to effectively police waterways in the country, especially in Bayelsa because of its peculiar location and security challenges.
On research, he emphasized that no country would make any appreciable progress in terms of development without a significant investment in meaningful research and execution of its outcomes.
He lamented that although Nigeria had surfeit of research study findings, not much of such efforts had impacted on the country’s development agenda.
The Bayelsa Chief Executive who noted that most brilliant research works had been swept under the carpet, however, expressed optimism that the outcome of the research being conducted by members of the Senior Course 44 Team would not go the way of others.
Pointing out the nexus between socioeconomic deprivation and insecurity, he asserted that most of the security challenges in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country would be solved if there is equity and fairness.
While making a case for increased security on the waterways of the state, Senator Diri commended security agencies in the state, particularly the Nigerian Navy for swiftly rescuing a kidnap victim in Bayelsa.
Governor Diri charged the various security agencies in the country to shun nepotism and unnecessary competition, but rather complement the effort of one another in the fight against crime and insecurity.
“The essence of research is to contribute to development. Research will be empty or mere barking without biting, if it is not attached to development. All over the world, people have spent more money in research.
“In fact, reports have it that the money Singapore is spending on research is more than what the people of the entire Africa invest in research. And the outcome of that effort has helped them to go far in terms of development.
“So, I believe it is time for Nigeria and Africa to implement the outcome of its research studies because most of such works have gathered dust and have even been eaten up by cockroaches in our shelves as a result of lack of implementation.
“But I believe that this will not go the same way. The Federal Government should, as a matter of duty, make sure that the outcome of your studies every year, is taken as part of national development strategy”, he added.
In his remarks, Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies of the College, Rear Admiral Patrick Nwatu, took memory lane to his days in Bayelsa and lauded the development efforts of successive administrations of the state, which he noted, has made significant progress.
He assured the state government that the outcome of the research would
be made available to all relevant stakeholders and put to use for the good of the state and the country at large.
Earlier, Leader of the Team, Air Commodore B.O.C Ifeobu, said they were in the state to conduct research on critical areas as part of their study at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji in Kaduna State.
He said the collage was a service institution with the objective of developing professional knowledge and understanding of selected mid-level officers to prepare them for higher command and staff appointments.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa