Bayelsa State governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, at the weekend in Yenagoa inaugurated an 11-member Special Task Force on Identification and Recovery of Government Property with a mandate to recover government property illegally acquired by individuals, communities and corporate organisations within and outside the state.
The Taskforce has two weeks to submit an interim report to government for it to take necessary action.
A statement at the end of the inauguration by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, named Chief Iboro Ige Idaba as chairman of the special task force, while Moses Teibowei is to serve as Secretary.
Other members include Solicitor-General of the state, Preye Agedah; Surveyor-General, Moses Doubeni and Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Chief Boma Spero Jack.
The members of the Taskforce also includes President of Ijaw Youth Council, Udengs Eradiri; Surveyor Assembly Goin, Loveday Owubokiri (representing the Nigeria Police), Assistant Commandant Ogbole Fredrick (representing the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps) and Chief Wisdom Franklin.
Dickson expressed displeasure over the rate of cases of encroachment on government’s property by individuals and communities and called on them to identify and take inventory of all government lands.
He said other terms of reference for the task force include, identification of government lands which process of acquisition has been completed and duly gazetted as well as those not yet concluded.
The special task force also has the responsibility of identifying and recovering lands that government has already indicated interest for purposes of acquisition and land ceded to Bayelsa in the old Rivers state.
Also, It is expected to determine levels of encroachment if any and take steps to retrieve and recover such lands as well as initiating the process of perfecting all such government landed titles.
Dickson urged the task force to prepare a comprehensive register comprising all government acquired lands and forwarded it to the offices of the state Physical Planning, Solicitor General of the state, Secretary to the State Government, Bayelsa Geographical and Information System (BGIS) and Surveyor General.
He charged them to create the necessary awareness on the need for members of the public to be aware of government lands and the need for them to make relevant enquiries from the relevant agencies before purchasing any land.
Meanwhile, as part of efforts to create a conducive environment for investments in the South-South state, Dickson has re-constituted the state Volunteer service to complement the conventional security agencies in the fight against kidnapping and other criminal activities.
Also inaugurated were the Centre For Youth Development (CYD) and Senior Special Assistants on Youths for the eight local government areas, with a mandate to re-orientate the mindset of youths on self-reliance and development.
Addressing youths in Yenagoa, Dickson said in the next one year, his administration would aggressively pursue investments in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure, industrialization and job creation, in collaboration with development partners.
He charged the coordinators of the agencies and various youth leaders to work closely with the government in achieving set goals, noting that, no meaningful development would take place in an atmosphere of insecurity.
Dickson called on those engaged in acts of kidnapping and other vices to desist forthwith, stressing that, sponsors of negative reports about Bayelsa were taking advantage of such activities to de-market the state, with a view to scaring away investors.
His words: “What the young people don’t know is that, because a lot of people are talking about Bayelsa and they have confidence in this state and in the government and they are coming to invest here. There are people, who do not want these investments to take place in Bayelsa, so they sponsor reports and splash it everywhere, including the Internet.
“They are doing so to de-market this state and if we don’t stop these crimes, we will be playing into the hands of the enemies of this state.” Already, we are working very hard and in the next one year, you will see a lot of major investments coming to Bayelsa.
He restated his administration’s resolve to deal decisively with community leaders, who aid and abet kidnapping, stating that, the operations of the volunteer service would be community-based to make reports on any incident of kidnapping.
“We count on you to be in touch with the grassroots, such that you will know and let the security agencies and the government know those who have done anything wrong; those who are likely to commit crime and work with the security to go after them.”
The Governor urged the Centre for Youth Development Board to devise training programmes, geared towards inculcating the right values and skills necessary for their empowerment, as the government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of creating employment for all.
Mr. Ebarakumo Otobo is the State Coordinator of the Bayelsa Volunteers, while Parkins Ogede is the secretary, with Shakapu Ebinepre as the Coordinator, Bayelsa West Senatorial district, Inenfi Ede, Coordinator, East senatorial district and Joseph Macaiver is to serve as the coordinator Central Senatorial district.
The Centre for Youth Development has Mr. Victor Okubonanabo and Ayaye Obuma as secretary, with Mr. Daubiri Samba, Delaemi Paul, Progress Fabre, as directors.
Other directors include, Mr. Airforce Igoniwari, Bidi Werilaghebofa, Ebiyon Ezeke and Jonathan Omungu.
The Senior Special Assistants to the Governor on Youths for the 8 local government areas are, Mr. Ombu Okubokakpo-Sagbama, Timiondi Agoke-Southern Ijaw, Tari Pori Ekeremor and Emi Dick for Kolokuma/Opokuma.
Others are Mr. Ebi Turner-Ogbia, Torukoro Penniel-Yenagoa, Terry Thomas-Nembe and Idubamo Theophilus for Brass.
