Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri
Diri douses tension over 13% derivation fund controversy, showcases projects in Bayelsa
[From CHRIS EZE, Yenagoa]
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri on Tuesday showcased some multi-billion naira big ticket projects which his ‘Prosperity Administration’ is executing across the state, in what is seen in many circles as a subtle reaction to the allegation of mismanaging the 13 percent derivation refund to the Niger Delta states by the Federal Government.
It would be recalled that since the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State pened a can pf worms when he alleged that President Muahamadu Buhari had approved refund of withheld 13 percent derivation fund to Niger Delta states, there has been pressure on the state governors in the region to account for how they spent the refund.
Last Tuesday, Director, New Media to Governor Douye Diri, Dr. Kola Oredipe took journalists on assessment tour of ongoing projects, especially road infrastructure.
Among the road projects inspected were the Bayelsa West and Bayelsa Central Senatorial roads aimed at linking communities in Sagbama and Ekeremor as well as Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas with the State capital.
Also visited were the 21 kilometer Igbogene-AIT/Elebele outer ring road that connects Yenagoa to Ogbia valued at over N54.56 billion and the 10.2km dual carriageway Glory Drive road from the Ecumenical Centre at Igbogene to the Tombia-Amassoma road .
At the 22.2 kilometer Bayelsa Central Senatorial Road being handled by a Chinese company, CCEC, the company workers were on site during the assessment tour. The road which starts from Yenagoa is designed to connect Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government, stretching further to Ukubie and linking other adjoining communities. The project according to the state government would gulp N31.4 billion.
Addressing journalists at Angiama where a 620 meter long bridge is being constructed to cross the River Nun to Oporoma, the Director New Media to Governor Douye Diri, Dr. Kola Oredipe said the project which the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo performed the ground breaking ceremony earlier this year is expected to be completed in two years time as the pillars for the bridge were being mounted just as the Governor had directed the award of contracts for road projects to neighbouring communities such as Eniwari, Ondewari and Otuan.
According to Oredipe, “While other States have their priorities, for us in Bayelsa, our aim is to open up several communities that are locked up in the rivers and creeks. The Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie Road is the one that is opening up the entire Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. This is headquarters of the Council area but for such a long time, Oporoma is not connected by road and it is this government that is taking this road there across the River Nun. It is about 22km. This administration took it over from Ikebiri community and it has gone up to Aguobiri, where we have a bridge that is standing.
“From that bridge over the Silver River, we have been able to access Angiama community. People here have been waiting for this road for over forty years. They are very excited that finally the road has reached Angiama, and we are taking it further. As you can see for yourself, the pillars for the bridge to cross the River Nun to Oporoma is being constructed, and thereafter roads would be constructed inside Oporoma as the Governor has directed for contracts to be awarded for Otuan, Eniwari abd Ondewari communities.”
Oredipe told journalists that clearing works had been completed on first phase of the Nembe-Brass road with sand filling to commence soon on the project conceived to have 10 bridges at a cost of N54 billion.
On the 42km Sagbama-Ekeremor road, valued at a cost of N34.4 billion the Director, New Media explained that five bridges were built by the current administration in addition to two others done by previous government, stressing that the people of Ekeremor Town and other communities in Bayelsa West Senatorial District can now drive to their areas.
‘You could see the stretch of the Ekeremor road, it has opened up communities from Toru-Orua to Angalabiri, Ofoni up to Ayamasa, Aleibiri , Isampou. You can just imagine the number of communities and people who used to travel by water. But today, they can travel by road to their communities. So, it has opened up a lot of communities in the area. We are taking it further to Agge and I am sure at the appropriate time, the government will take that decision.
“That is the story we are telling Nigerians that this government is giving hope to Bayelsans. We mean business when we say it is massive infrastructure everywhere. And you can see that we are also trying to expand the State capital, Yenagoa City through the Glory Drive and Outer Ring Roads . By the time those two roads are completed, you can be sure that we will have new development areas in Yenagoa. So, the Prosperity Administration of Governor Douye Diri is committed to completing all the ongoing projects in the State’, he asserted.
Some residents in Ekeremor town who spoke the journalists including Madam Bolo-ere Lovely, 56 year old Teacher, Mr. Okpe Charles and Mr. Mie Selewari expressed their excitement as they expressed gratitude to the State government for ensuring that the road project is now a reality.
