GOVERNOR DIRI TO JOIN FORCES WITH SOUTH-SOUTH GOVERNORS AND ENSURE COMPLETION OF EAST WEST ROAD
Ogbuku , Diri, Momoh and others at Government House Yenagoa
BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU, FRCN PORT HARCOURT
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has pledged to encourage other Governors of South-South extraction to rally round the Minister of Niger Delta Development and ensure speedy completion of East West Road.
Governor Diri who made the commitment in Government House Yenagoa Bayelsa State while receiving the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Mr. Abubakar Momoh and the Management Director Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as part of the minister’s working visit, described the road as very strategic to the economic development of the nation.
The working tour of the region which started in Port Harcourt Rivers State was for the minister of Niger Delta Development to have on the spot assessment of projects being executed by the Ministry and Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
Speaking during a courtesy call on him by the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri expressed displeasure over the deplorable condition of East West Road.
The Governor who decried environmental degradation caused by oil exploration and exploitation, called on the Federal Government to pay attention to the yearnings of Niger Delta region.
While promising to team up with other governors of the region for the actualization of East West Road, the governor appreciated President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for retaining Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as the Managing Director of NDDC.
Earlier in a presentation, the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Mr. Abubakar Momoh described as disheartening the bad state of East West Road.
The Minister who said it was expedient for stakeholders of Niger Delta extraction to form alliance and facilitate the completion of the Road, emphasized the importance of peace in the region to boost oil production.
HRM DAKOLO
He noted that the ministry of works has a large work load which would delay the work, as such; he would want the road to be transferred back to the ministry of Niger Delta development.
During a courtesy visit on Bayelsa State Transitional Rulers Council, Mr. Momoh spoke against oil theft and its negative effects on the economy.
In a response, Chairman Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, King Bubaraye Dakolo attributed oil theft to greed by some affluent people in some quarters.
The monarch who lamented the damage flood has caused in the region called for employment and capacity building for the youths.
Some of the projects inspected were, East West Road, canalization of Onopa canal in Yenagoa, Sand filling for Housing Estate in Odi, integrated oil palm processing plant in Adagbagiri among others.
