Bayelsa people demand federal presence in Bayelsa
Bayelsa state Governor, Senator Douye Diri, have joined other key stakeholders to demand better federal government’s presence to fast track overall development of the state.
The stakeholders, according to report by Blueprint, made the call during a hall Meeting organised by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in conjunction with the state government at the Chief Harold Dappa Biriye conference centre in Yenagoa.
They called on the federal government to revisit the abandoned federal secretariat and housing projects among other federal infrastructure lacking in the state.
In their presentation, chairman of the Central Zone, Ijaw Youth Council, Clever Inodu, and the council’s spokesman, Ebilade Ekerefe, stressed that constructive engagement of the youths was vital to sustaining the peace and security in the Niger Delta.
They said they were still awaiting fulfillment of the federal government’s directive to the oil multinationals to relocate their operational headquarters to the Niger Delta.
Also, pioneer chairman of the state’s Traditional Rulers Council, King Joshua Igbugburu, elder statesman, Chief Thompson Okorotie, representative of the Civil Liberties Organisation, Chief Nengi James, expressed concern over the number of abandoned federal projects in the state.
In his response, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, underscored the need for all to work to make Bayelsa a peaceful and investment-friendly destination.
He highlighted some ongoing federal projects to create job opportunities for youths in the state.
He said the Brass fertilizer plant, the Oil and Gas Industrial Park project at Ogbia, the Oloibiri Museum and the petrochemical plant in Polaku were targeted intervention projects.
The Minister, who also assured that action would be taken on the Nembe-Brass road, promised that all ongoing projects would be completed.
