Osinbajo To Flag Off Project In Bayelsa, Others Set For Inauguration

As the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri and his Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo mark their second year in office, February 14th, 2022, the Bayelsa State Government has said it would commission no fewer than 20 road, educational, health, media and agricultural projects as part of the activities lined up for the celebration
The Tide gathered that projects billed for commissioning include those inherited from the past administration of former governor Seriake Dickson,(now a Senator) and completed in the last one year under the Diri’s administration as well as others initiated by the present government in same period.
A statement from the Chief press secretary to the state governor, Mr Daniel Alabrah, states that the anniversary activities will commence a week earlier before February 14 and will continue till the end of the month due to the number of projects lined up for inauguration.
Alabrah further added that Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo is expected to flag-off a bridge project across River Nun at Angiama linking Oporoma, headquarters of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
The Tide reports that Governor Diri, last weekend inspected some of the projects at various stages of completion. The projects include the Yenagoa-Oporoma road, Bayelsa State Mega Media Complex for Radio Bayelsa, Niger Delta Television and the Bayelsa Newspaper Corporation.
Others are the Igbedi road, Glory Drive road, Bayelsa Transport Terminal at Igbogene, Phase One of the Igbogene/AIT Ring Road, the Elebele Bridge, the Onopa Bridge and access roads.
Speaking to Journalists shortly after the inspection, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Surveyor Moses Teibowei, disclosed that between 20 and 30 projects in various sectors would be ready for commissioning. He said the contractors have been mobilised and mandated to complete the projects within specified time in readiness for commissioning.
Teibowei said: “Between 20 and 30 projects should be ready, not only in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure but also in education, health, agriculture and other sectors.
“My target is to complete assigned projects and I strongly believe that some of the projects visited will be completed.”
Governor Diri, who commended the Works Commissioner, described him as a capable hand with a competent team, stating that based on reports received on the progress of work, he decided to have firsthand knowledge of what had been achieved so far, hence the recent inspection.
“What I have seen is quite commendable. You know I have a very capable hand in the Ministry of Works and very competent monitors. I have been receiving reports. I came myself to confirm the reports that I have received so far. What we have seen is very commendable and we are sure that the targets will be kept”, the governor said.
Governor Diri and the inspection team who were welcomed at Angiama (a riverine) Community in the Southern Ijaw council area of the state who saw cars for the first time when the road project got to the community commended the community and the contractors for the peaceful and harmonious working relationship, just as the community commended the governor and his predecessor for their passion to develop the state.
The Tide learnt that inspected Yenagoa-Oproma road, tagged ‘the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District road’ is one of the federal projects in the state that had been on the drawing board for over 50 years before the state government undertook its construction.
Other federal projects are the Nembe-Brass and Sagbama-Ekeremor roads, respectively.
Also in the inspection entourage was the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, and equally expressing satisfaction with the quality of work by the different contractors.
He said it was the Assembly’s duty to approve funds for execution of projects, just as it was in their place to monitor such projects to ascertain value for money, promising that the Assembly would continue to support the executive arm of government to deliver more Infrastructure to Bayelsans.
Others on the inspection team were the leader of the Assembly, Monday Obolo-Bubou, Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Benson Agadaga, Commissioner of Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mr. Ayibaina Duba amongst other top government functionaries.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa