The Ijaw Youths Council has commended the administration of Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, for its decision to shop for N30bn loan to start construction work on the Nembe-Brass Road and other ongoing infrastructure projects in the state.
The council, in a statement on Sunday by its spokesman, Ebilade Ekerefe, described Diri’s decision to seek the approval of the House of Assembly to collect the facility as a step in the right direction.
It also lauded the House, under the speakership of Abraham Ingobere, for giving the governor’s loan request expedited approval during plenary.
The group expressed hope that the governor’s move would encourage the Federal Government and the multinationals operating in the area, particularly the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, to see the state government’s sincerity of purpose and support the effort.
According to the IYC, the Nembe-Brass road would be more beneficial to the oil firms and their workers while opening up the area as a major tourism and business hub in Bayelsa East senatorial district.
It stated that the road project, which is estimated to cost N100bn, was also strategic to the economic transformation of the state because the Brass LNG and Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical projects are sited in the area.
The council said, “Again, the (Nembe-Brass) road project will also bring the Atlantic Ocean closer to our people and, in turn, expand the tourism potential of the state and boost internally generated revenue for rapid development.
“While we call on stakeholders to be optimistic over Governor Diri’s quest for a prosperous Bayelsa, we urge the oil multinationals, particularly Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and other political stakeholders in the area, to support the quick completion of the project. It is for the benefit of all.”
The Ijaw youths also congratulated Diri for emerging as the Daily Independent Newspaper’s Governor of the Year, describing the award as “well-deserved”.
They said the youths of the region were not surprised that the ‘Governor-General of the Ijaw nation was singled out among his colleagues for the category.
The IYC noted that the governor’s performance in Bayelsa, the Niger Delta, and the nation at large speaks volumes of his capacity to lead.
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