The Bayelsa government says its priority is to ensure that every Local Government Area (LGA) of the State is accessible by road.
Mr. Ayibaina Duba, Commissioner for Information, Orientation, and Strategy, made this known on Thursday in Yenagoa at the Correspondents’ Forum, a platform by the Federated Correspondent’s Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State Council.
The Commissioner noted with regret that since Bayelsa was part of the Old Rivers which was created in 1967, many communities in the Area were never accessible by road.
Duba said that determined to reverse the trend, the Gov. Douye Diri-led administration’s focus is hinged on the construction of key road projects to connect most of the communities located along the coast.
He explained that when the administration came to office about three years ago, three local government headquarters of Brass, Southern Ijaw, and Ekeremor were not accessible by road.
According to Duba, the development informed the decision by the governor to allocate resources to fund ongoing construction works on the Nembe-Brass, Yenagoa-Oporoma, and Sagbama-Ekeremor roads to link communities in the three Senatorial districts.
“For over 50 years when we were in the old Rivers State, the impression that was given was that there was no land to even construct any road to Ekeremor.
“Some few days back I went to Ekeremor and I drove through the road to Ekeremor, not to talk of Oporoma. As far as the Prosperity Government is concerned, Gov. Douye Diri is committed to ending all those stories. It must end with him. Like Agge is in the Atlantic Ocean, we have come to realize that it’s possible to have a road to Agge.
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“Look at what we are doing in Nembe/Brass. Agip has had its base there for many years. The Terminal is there, that is where crude oil is sold to the international community and there is no road there. One of the greatest things we want to achieve is to make sure that Bayelsa State is connected by road, every local government must be linked by road,” Duba asserted.
Duba explained that the Diri Administration is eager to continue and complete projects initiated by the previous administration to fast-track the development of Bayelsa State.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Federated Correspondents Chapel, Bayelsa State Council of the NUJ, Mr. Tife Owolabi, explained that the Correspondent Forum is an initiative of the group to provide a platform for public office holders and key personalities to interact with members on policy and other national issues.
Meanwhile, activities to mark the third Anniversary of the administration commenced on Thursday with the Passing out of Members of the Bayelsa State Community Safety Corps at the Peace Park, Opposite Government House, Yenagoa
There was also the inauguration of the Bayelsa Health Insurance Administrative Building by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State, at the Secretariat Complex, Yenagoa, and, the Transport Terminal at Igbogene by the immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.
Other activities include the launch of the Glory Drive (Igbogene Airport Road) by His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, next Monday as the third Anniversary Dinner takes place at the Chief DSP Alamieyesigha Banquet Hall, Government House Ovom, Yenagoa.
On Feb. 20, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, will formally inaugurate the completed Sagbama-Ekeremor Road Project.
