Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State Friday ,said the state government is opened for partnership on development and completion of the East West road.
Diri disclosed this when he received the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh in Government House, Yenagoa.
The visit was geared towards giving priority attention to developmental projects in the region, particularly, the East-West road.
The Bayelsa State Governor charged Niger Delta Development Minister, Engr. Abubakar Momoh that”It is our plea that with a new President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we believe that priority attention will be given to the East-West road. So, Honourable Minister, please carry our message to the president that we urgently need the fixing of the East-West road.
“Let me also thank Mr. President, using this opportunity, for your appointment because you are a son of the Niger Delta and we believe that you will do justice to the issues and challenges that becloud our region and our State.
“I will also bring to your knowledge that the Ministry of the Niger Delta is too far from the people of the Niger Delta. The people of the Niger Delta want to own and feel that Ministry as their own.
“The people of the Niger Delta want to feel the impact of the Ministry of the Niger Delta Development. At the moment, the Ministry is too far from Niger Deltans, not by its location, but impact. As at now, the people have been alienated.
“For example, we want to see the speedy completion of the East-West Road and completion of other tangible projects in the region so that the hen that lays the golden egg is not allowed to wallow in poverty”.
“But the people are alienated in terms of budget preparation, policies and implementation. The people are asking for inclusiveness and we believe that your coming will stop this gap,” Governor Diri stated.
Governor Diri also used the opportunity to thank the president for approving the appointment of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, as a substantive Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who was part of the entourage.
The Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh on his part, explained to Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council that, whereas people have been calling on his ministry to salvage the deplorable state of the East-West Road, however, added that the supervision of the road was, in 2022 moved from his Ministry to that of Works.
Engr. Momoh believed that returning the road project to Ministry of Niger Delta Development is the first step to the prompt completion of the road, as he beckoned on the Traditional Rulers to lend their voices.
