Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa says he will build a FIFA-standard stadium, an iconic nine-storey secretariat complex, among others, as he marks his fifth anniversary as governor of the state.
The governor said this at a thanksgiving service held at the Ecumenical Centre, Igbogene, Yenagoa, and had renowned Ghanaian preacher, Dr Otabil Mensah, as the guest speaker.
Freedomonline reports that the event had prominent Nigerians, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Dame Patience Jonathan, Gov. of Plateau, Caleb Muftwang, among others.
Diri said the 25,000-seater stadium would be flagged off by former President Goodluck Jonathan on Feb. 17.
He disclosed that the contractor, Megastar Limited, for the secretariat,
had already been paid 50 per cent of the project cost.
He listed some of his other projects to include the Bayelsa Central road, which he said would get to Oporoma, headquarters of the Southern Ijaw Local Government and would be inaugurated this year.
The governor, stated that with the support of the Federal Government, the second phase of the Nembe-Brass road in Bayelsa East would come on stream.
Diri said the ongoing first phase of the road would be 90 per cent completed by the end of this year.
In education, Diri said there had been a shift to science and technical education and the government had built and equipped five science and technical colleges across the state.
He directed the Commissioner for Education to ensure that the two local governments yet to be covered were completed this year.
On epileptic power supply, the Bayelsa helmsman said it would be a thing of the past when the 60mw gas turbines worth $60 million arrive the state.
According to him, “All of these projects run into billions of naira. Of course, the one that will make all of us happier and affects everyone, is electricity.
“We have agreed with a private company that is supplying us 60mw of gas turbines, big enough to serve not only Yenagoa but the whole of Bayelsa State.
“We are expecting the gas turbines to arrive Nigeria in the next two months and I can promise you that by the end of this year, we will have 24 hours independent power supply,” he said.
In his goodwill message, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Mr Tope Fasua, commended the state government’s significant development and economic progress.
Shettima said the state was diversifying beyond crude oil and gas, into agriculture, fishery and sports, that were crucial to the state’s prosperity.
He noted that the commencement of commercial flights to the Bayelsa International Airport was a significant infrastructural development.
The Vice President also applauded Diri for his reforms, including the announcement of a minimum wage of N80,000 for state workers.
He acknowledged the state as second highest GDP per capital after Lagos State.
