–focuses on Infrastructure rebirth 2:0 under Diri
–also advocates for development template for the state
From Eric Eweke, Niger Delta Bureau Chief
The South South Re-awakening Group has held its 2nd Breakfast Roundtable on Bayelsa’s Infrastructure Rebirth 2:0 under the ASSURED Prosperity Administration led by Governor Douye Diri , at the Golden Tulip Hotel , Yenagoa, with a panel discussion.
In his opening remarks, the convener of the Breakfast Roundtable Elder Joseph Ambakederimo said, the South South Re-awakening Group is a platform that have being championing dialogue, discussion and re-awaken the consciousness of the people of the region to have interest in public issues bordering on good governance, environment and the socio-political economy of the region.
Elder Ambakederimo stated that the July edition of the Breakfast Roundtable was conceived to examine and appraise the quality of infrastructure development undertaken by governor Diri led administration, the economic values, benefits and create avenue for industry players to make suggestions on how best for maintain and sustain the development tempo in the state.
He urged Bayelsans to cross check those coming with monies to invest and stressed the importance of Agge Deep Seaport Port project, Osekeneke – Onitsha road project, Nembe/ Brass Road, Yenagoa/ Oporoma road, which according to him, when completed will reduce travelling time and would generate other economic benefits to the state.
He described the Osekeneke-Onitsha road project as the South South /South East Industrial Investment corridor, that will stimulate regional trade in the country.
Governor Douye Diri who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Nimibofa Ayaiwei , in his remarks commended Elder Ambakederimo for convening the South South Re-awakening Group 2nd edition Breakfast Roundtable in Yenagoa, to discuss issues on Bayelsa State infrastructural development.
He said, Diri is committed to completing all ongoing road projects, the iconic 9 Storey Secretariat Complex and other projects to open up the state.
He urged Bayelsans to be peaceful, law abiding and support the government.
He advised the youths to acquire skills that would enable them to participate in the industrial sector and stop vandalizing critical public facilities, adding that government will continue to create the enabling environment such as provision of good roads, stable electricity, good proven water, healthcare facilities, security, good governance among others for citizens of the state to have quality life.
According to the SSG, the state government is not only connecting the roads, but also looking at the benefits of the roads, which he sited the significant of the construction of the Brass road after 30 years, to enable the state become a major player in the oil industry.
During the panel discussion, Professor Francis Sikoki of University of Africa Toru-Orua UOA, advised the State government to launch a developmental template for successive administrations to follow up, emphasizing that there should be continuity from one administration to another in order to halt the abandoned projects syndrome.
He commended Diri for the numerous development projects undertaken particularly, the construction of network of roads connecting various communities across the state.
Professor Sikoki enjoined the people to protect and take ownership of government facilities in their domains for public good.
In his contributions, a veteran Journalist, Dan Abia of the Vanguard Newspaper commended Diri for the infrastructure revolution in the state and lamented the lack of legislation to guide development plan in the country.
He advised State House of Assemblies to enact laws to ensure continuity of projects and maintenance culture
Abia urged governor Diri to commit funds into the abandoned 5 Star Hotel, at Azikoro, started by late DSP Alamieyeseigha Administration in 2005 to attract tourists to the state and praised the miracle governor for the prevailing peace in the state.
On his part, former Vice Chairman, Sapele Local Government Area, in Delta State, Hon.Charles Eddy Umukoro, who was speaking from the angle of a policy analyst, said the problem in Nigeria is the attitude of projects ownership by successors government to abandon projects started by their predecessors.
Hon. Umukoro who is also the publisher of TopNews lauded Diri for using Bayelsa allocation in the right direction, particularly the construction of the 60MW Gas Turbine , saying that electricity is the backbone to industrial development.
According to the former Vice Chairman, other State governments are coming to study the template of Bayelsa State Electricity Company to replicate same in their various states .
He advised Bayelsans not to vandalize government projects which is built with public funds from tax as citizens are paying various forms of taxes through buying of petroleum products , among others not known to them.
Reviewing the contributions of the panelists and issues on ground the Convener, Elder Ambakederimo advocated for replication of the Oporoma Referral Hospital in the 8 Local government Areas in the State, and functional Health Centres in Communities and pushed for practice of proper federal structure and also call on the federal government to grant more allocation to States and Local Governments
He commended Governor Douye Diri for the massive road construction across the state, the 60 mega-watts Gas Turbine and other legacy projects he has executed.
Participants
unanimously advocated for development plan and urged successive governments to ensure continuity of projects irrespective of party affiliations to foster rapid development in the state.
At the end of the Breakfast Roundtable discussion on Bayelsa Infrastructural Rebirth 2:0, under the Assured Prosperity government of governor Douye Diri, the body issued a 4 points communique which includes:
1. That the Roundtable is in agreement for further deepening of quality infrastructure development in all spheres of life state.
2. The conference gave a resounding vote of confidence on the governor and his team for undertaking and funding ambitious projects that have defied the ” Difficult Terrain” assumption that have characterised the state for decades.
3. That the conference strongly frowns at the incessant vandalization of critical infrastructure, particularly the recent incident that affected the flow of gas to the Gas Turbine.
4. And that the conference calls for concerted efforts to institutionalize a development template arising from the ongoing infrastructure revolution currently undertaken by the Assured Prosperity administration of governor Douye Diri.
