Bayelsa state governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the construction of the Nembe-Brass road by his administration is targeted at enhancing the economic benefits of the state and the country beyond political consideration.
The governor said the decision to embark on the road construction, which is a federal project in Bayelsa East senatorial district, was borne out of his strong desire to create access to the Atlantic Ocean in order to harness its abundant natural resources.
Senator Diri stated this on Saturday when he led the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign team on a visit to the palace of the Okpo XXI of Okpoama Kingdom, King Ebitimi Banigo at Okpoama in Brass local government area of the state ahead of the November 11 governorship election.
Okpoama is the hometown of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said the governor, who kicked off his re-election campaign from the Brass council area at the weekend, stressed the need to diversify the state’s economy away from crude oil and gas as they are fading assets.
He noted that from his days as pioneer National Organising Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), he had noticed the level of poverty and underdevelopment in Ijawland and vowed to change the narrative if God gave him the opportunity to serve the people.
“When l became governor, l wrote to the federal government and the Nigeria Agip Oil Company on the need to collaborate with the state government to construct the three critical senatorial roads. These are not projects that only the Bayelsa government can handle because the cost runs into hundreds of billions of naira.
“The Nembe-Brass road is not a political project. It is the major project l have brought to the people of Okpoama and the Bayelsa East Senatorial District,” he said.
In his remarks, chairman of Okpoama council of chiefs, Chief Paul Omubo Suobagha, who represented King Ebitimi Banigo, underscored the importance of the Nembe-Brass road, saying that they look forward to driving to their home town.
Blueprint Newspapers on WhatsAp-Join now!