Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has identified road infrastructure, electricity and employment opportunities for young people as key priorities as the state marks its 30th anniversary.
Diri made the remarks on Thursday during a live broadcast to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Bayelsa State and Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary. Bayelsa was created on October 1, 1996, from the former Rivers State.
The governor said the state had made significant progress since its creation despite challenges posed by its difficult terrain, limited infrastructure and poor connectivity. He said successive administrations had contributed to the development of roads, bridges, educational institutions and other infrastructure.
Diri said his administration was building on previous efforts through investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, electricity and human capital development. He, however, acknowledged that several challenges remained unresolved.
He said road development would continue to receive attention, noting that work was progressing on the three senatorial roads. He also highlighted the 630-metre bridge across the River Nun to Oporoma as an important infrastructure project linking communities in Southern Ijaw.
On electricity, Diri said the state’s Independent Power Project was being expanded from 60 megawatts to 100 megawatts. He said expanding the distribution network would allow more communities to benefit from the additional power capacity.
The governor also placed emphasis on employment and skills development, particularly for young people. He encouraged youths to acquire vocational and technical skills that could prepare them for opportunities beyond traditional white-collar employment.
As part of that strategy, Diri said underwater welding would be introduced into the curriculum of vocational and technical colleges and higher institutions. He linked the initiative to opportunities in the maritime and wider blue economy, given Bayelsa’s coastal location.
He also pointed to aquaculture, agriculture and maritime activities as sectors with potential to create jobs and diversify the state’s economy. Diri said the government was exploring opportunities around the development of seaports and other maritime infrastructure.
The governor said the anniversary should not only be an occasion to celebrate the achievements of the past three decades but also an opportunity to consider what Bayelsa needs to accomplish in the years ahead.
“Much has been achieved, and much remains unfinished,” Diri said, stressing the need for roads to reach more communities, electricity supply to expand and young people to have meaningful opportunities to work and prosper.
As Bayelsa enters its fourth decade, the administration says its focus remains on completing major infrastructure projects while strengthening power supply, human capital development and economic opportunities across the state.