Stakeholders in Bayelsa State have endorsed the infrastructure development agenda of Governor Douye Diri’s administration.
This is even as they advocated for stiffer sanctions against vandalism of public facilities.
The stakeholders also passed a vote of confidence on Senator Diri, calling for sustained investment in critical projects.
The stakeholders stated this at event tagged: Breakfast Roundtable organised by the South-South Reawakening group.
It had participants drawn from the state government, professional bodies, civil society organisations and the media.
It also featured panelists including Prof Francis Sikoki, the Dean of the Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences and a member of the Governing Council of the Niger Delta University, Hon Charles En- Umukoro, former Vice Chairman, Sapele Local Government Council and Publisher of Top News, and Mr Daniel Abia, a veteran journalist among others.
The stakeholders in a communique issued after deliberations resolved that Bayelsa State should continue to deepen quality infrastructure development across all sectors of the state’s economy, describing infrastructure as a critical driver of economic growth, investment and improved living standards.
While commending Senator Diri’s administration for embarking on and funding ambitious infrastructure projects despite the state’s challenging riverine terrain, the stakeholders declared that many of the ongoing projects have invalidated the long-held assumption that Bayelsa’s difficult geographical landscape makes major infrastructure development impossible.
The stakeholders, however, expressed concern over the persistent vandalisation of critical public infrastructure, particularly the recent attack that disrupted gas supply to the state’s gas turbine.
They condemned the act and called on security agencies, host communities and relevant authorities to strengthen efforts to safeguard public infrastructure against sabotage.
The stakeholders advocated stronger measures to protect public assets from vandalism, stressing that protecting strategic assets is essential to ensuring uninterrupted power generation, economic stability and sustainable development across the state.
The Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Prof. Ayawei Nimibofa, in his remarks, highlighted the importance of the infrastructural development embarked upon by the Senator Diri administration, noting that the ongoing road construction of the Brass Kingdom would transform Bayelsa into a major logistics hub for Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas industry.
According to him, the road would significantly reduce travel time to offshore oil fields, attract private investment, create thousands of jobs, and stimulate business logistics, hospitality, marine transportation, and other support services.
Also speaking, Convener of the South South Reawakening Group, Mr. Joseph Ambakaderimo, stressed the importance of sustained engagement between government and citizens to improve public understanding of governance and infrastructure development.
He said continuous dialogue would strengthen transparency, accountability and public confidence while ensuring citizens remain informed about government policies and ongoing developmental projects.
(The Sun)