Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri
Proposed South South regional office of Nuclear Regulatory in Bayelsa excites Gov. Diri
[From CHRIS EZE, Yenagoa]
Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri has expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NNRA) for choosing the state to set up its South South regional office.
The governor who spoke Monday in Government House, Yenagoa while receiving the Director General of the NNRA, Dr. Yau Idris said that locating the agency’s office in the state is a welcome development that would benefit the people.
Governor Diri while appreciating the Minister of State, Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, for approving the zonal headquarters for the state, however urged the agency to move beyond oil and gas and explore other areas like space that would contribute to the development of the country as the world economy is moving away from oil and gas.
Diri equally had kind words for members of the National Assembly from Bayelsa who he said set their political differences aside to work for development of the state. He said that what should be paramount in their stewardship should be bequeathing a better society to the next generation.
His words: “Your agency is welcome to our state. Bayelsa is peaceful and looking for investors and partnership with all well-meaning corporate and private bodies.
We request for more agencies, ministries, departments and parastatals to have their offices here.
“I appreciate the Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources and the Bayelsa State House of Representatives Caucus, especially the deputy chairman, Petroleum Upstream Committee, Hon Preye Oseke, who has been in touch with government and made this possible.
“As we are in the saddle of governance, the only choice we have is to work in unity and leave development for our children. Let us not leave a Bayelsa of hatred, war and illiteracy, sickness and disease to our children. Let’s make Bayelsa and Nigeria a state and country our children will be proud of.”
Earlier, Dr Idris, who was accompanied by members of the Bayelsa State House of Representatives Caucus, noted that the agency is a regulatory body in charge of issues relating to radiation.
According to him, the NNRA, an agency under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, has 80 per cent of its activities related to oil and gas.
The agency he pointed out is also responsible for regulating radiation activities in the health, mining, agriculture and manufacturing sectors among others.
Dr Idris stated that the increase in the agency’s activities agency and the need to expand informed the decision to approach the Minister of State Petroleum, who approved the location of the office in Yenagoa.
