Chairperson of the Mini-Ikensi Rural Development Authority (RDA) of Bayelsa State, Hon. Mildred Kilete, has said the State’s new 60mw gas fired turbines procured and installed by the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has started turning around the economic fortunes of citizens of the State.
She also lauded the Governor for giving her the opportunity to serve her Development Authority and the State.

The Chairlady noted that other infrastructure projects such as the rural and urban roads criss-crossing different parts of the State were a testament to the Governor’s political will to transforming Bayelsa state.
Kilete spoke with newsmen shortly after participating in a programme tagged, “Roundtable Series” with the theme, ‘’Bayelsa Power Infrastructure and its value chain objectives’’.
The Tide’s reports that the event, held in Yenagoa, the State capital, on Tuesday, was an economic and investment drive for the State’s Power Sector, and was part of activities put together to commemorate the 30th creation anniversary of the State.
According to her, in consonance with the Governor’s infrastructural drive, she has also executed a number of projects in her RDA which have since been put to use in the area, while others were awaiting inauguration soon.
The Mini-Ikensi boss emphasized that the projects executed by the Governor in various parts of the State have direct bearing on the lives of the citizens, and praised the urban renewal strides of the Diri-led administration.
Describing Diri as the best thing to have happened to the state, she stressed that she was replicating the achievements of the Governor in her RDA through the execution of meaningful and impactful projects, including rural water supply, concrete roads, and public conveniences.
‘’Douye Diri has done very well for Bayelsa State. Already, citizens of this State have started reaping the benefits of the constant power supply from the new gas turbines procured and installed by the Diri-led Prosperity Assured administration.
“The Governor has done very well in all facets of the State’s life; be it in roads, healthcare, empowerment initiatives and others.
“So, I want to again thank him for giving me the opportunity to serve my state and RDA. I’ve executed projects such as concrete roads, solar powered boreholes, public conveniences and others in my RDA, courtesy of the Governor having given me the privilege of serving my people as Chairperson.
“I’ll continue to work to deliver more dividends of democracy for my RDA and will continue to work for the victory of the APC in all the forthcoming polls”, She said.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has intensified its campaign for youth participation in Nigeria’s democratic process, urging university students and other eligible young Nigerians to register, collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and play a more active role in shaping the country’s future.
The Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, gave the charge at a voter education and civic sensitisation programme, tagged “Project New Nigeria and Voter Education”, held at the Abia State University, Uturu.
Ogbuku, represented by the Director, Social Services, Engr. Jeremiah Oritsejolomi, said the initiative was designed to deepen civic awareness and encourage responsible participation in the democratic process, particularly among young people in the Niger Delta.
He said the campaign had already been taken to several universities in the region, including Rivers State University, stressing that university communities remained strategic to the initiative because of their large population of young Nigerians.
According to him, despite their numerical strength, many young people remain disengaged from elections and other aspects of civic participation, a situation he said informed the decision by the Commission to take voter education directly to campuses.
Ogbuku urged eligible students to register to vote, obtain their PVCs and make informed choices at elections, while assuring that deserving students would also receive educational support materials under the programme.
The initiative’s convener, Foundation for Citizens Empowerment and Sensitisation on Civic Responsibility, Mr. Samuel Nzidee, said Project New Nigeria was conceived by young Nigerians to engage students and amplify their voices on issues affecting university communities.
Nzidee argued that students possessed significant civic influence through their participation in elections, and urged them to deploy their collective voice to demand greater attention to challenges such as accommodation, quality of education, respectful student-lecturer relations and affordability of education.
He said young Nigerians should move beyond being passive observers of governance and become more actively involved in decision-making, adding that their participation was necessary to ensure that issues affecting them received adequate attention.
As part of the intervention, Nzidee disclosed that tuition fees would be provided for 200 returning students, while other beneficiaries would receive laptops, tablets and other educational support materials.
He urged the students to remain informed, register to vote, collect their PVCs and participate responsibly in the forthcoming elections.
The Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University, Prof. Ndukwe Okeudo, represented by the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof. Dick Uduma, commended the NDDC for bringing the sensitisation programme to the university.
Okeudo said voter education was essential to helping Nigerians understand their civic responsibilities and participate meaningfully in the democratic process.
He also urged the beneficiaries of the educational support programme to conduct themselves responsibly and uphold the reputation of the institution.

The Bayelsa State Chapter of Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs) has demanded inclusion in benefits accruing to oil and gas host communities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The group made the demand on Tuesday during a courtesy visit on the Obanobhan (Monarch) of the Emeyal Clan in Ogbia Local Government Area of the State, HRM King Wapaebiama Amakiri at his place.
In his remarks during the visit, Coordinator of the group, Mr. Philip Godfrey, alleged that PWDs were excluded from benefits accruing from the Host Community Development Trust Fund.
He noted that there had previously been no Act obligating their inclusion in the benefit structure of the Host Community Development Trust Fund.

Geofrey, who also applauded the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) and the Ford Foundation for making the advocacy movement possible, said PWDs have been denied, discriminated against and disconnected for a very long time inspite of the existence of the extant PIA, which he noted has been operational since five years ago.
“Pollution did not discriminate against anyone, it affects PWDs more than able-bodied persons. PWDs have been excluded for too long and it was not supposed to be so.
“The PIA had created an opportunity for PWDs to make their voices heard. PWDs should benefit from oil exploration because some of us came from oil-producing communities and also suffer the effects of oil and gas caused pollution and environmental hazards.
“We are not being carried along. If we are feeling the pains, we should also get the benefits of oil exploration. Some of us also come from oil producing communities”, he said.
In his response, King Amakiri said the world had come to recognise that disability did not mean incapacitation, adding that PWDs were disabled but capable.
The monarch said the setback associated with disability should no longer be used as a disadvantage against PWDs, stressing that it was in the past that PWDs were regarded as being beggarly.
“PWDS have been contributing meaningfully to development across their continue to contribute even more meaningful to the development of society.

various communities, LGAs, States and even the nation. Given the right opportunity, PWDs would continue to contribute even more meaningful to the development of society.
“I’ve heard your demands, and it’s a right one. I assure you that I would discuss with fellow traditional rulers in charge of oil producing communities in this clan. I believe that upon informing and discussing with fellow monarchs, we’ll deliberate on the issue at their various meetings.
“It’s true that oil pollution and other oil and gas related hazards affect both able-bodied persons and PWDs”, the monarch said.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa