Efforts by the Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri to develop the state is receiving a serious boost, with the decision of the Africa In Diaspora, the sixth region of Africa, to support the state in growing the aviation, education and health sectors in the state.
This is coming at a time that the state government is also acquiring two new aircrafts to buoy up operations at the state-owned airport. The aircrafts will ply the Yenagoa-Lagos and Yenagoa-Abuja routes.
Prime Minister of the State of Africa in Diaspora, Dr. Tin Louise-George, who was in Yenagoa on a courtesy visit, recalled that in 2003, Heads of State of the Africa Union unanimously adopted a resolution establishing the Africa in Diaspora as the sixth region of Africa.
He said there were 350 million people of African descent living outside of Africa and that he had the mandate of the Africa Union to represent them, adding that besides the government, which he leads, a parliament and a royal chamber, there were programmes of action for development, with the objective to reinforce Africa through the diaspora and the diaspora through Africa.
“Our objective is to reinforce Africa through the diaspora and the diaspora through Africa. And we are very happy to have this opportunity to come to Bayelsa State and Nigeria. What we want to do is propose support, development and funding.
“This morning, I saw the airport and I know you want to extend it. We are ready to provide the resources to develop this airport, a smart city somewhere, education and a medical complex. We will be happy to contribute.”
Responding, Diri told the guests that his government decided to procure the two aircrafts to commence commercial flight because his administration was determined to make the Bayelsa International Airport more commercially effective for flight operations.
While welcoming Dr. Louise-George on his maiden visit to Nigeria and Bayelsa, he described the State of Africa in Diaspora as akin to Doctors Without Borders.
He said the state government was ready for partnership in the area of the airport expansion and development of a smart city.
He said: “I heartily welcome you and your team to Bayelsa. We are happy to note that you are here in Nigeria for the first time.
“Let me acknowledge that I had a fruitful virtual meeting with you and your team when I was recently in London, which was facilitated by my Technical Adviser, Prof. Oweikumo Eradiri.
“As an African government without borders, we know you have a lot for us. My Technical Adviser had earlier presented the plans we have in developing our state. The airport is one of them, which certainly needs expansion.
”We are working on the airport in the area of ensuring there are regular, daily flights. We had an arrangement with a private airline, which we were supporting for flights to and fro Lagos and Abuja. But it got to a point where that arrangement almost collapsed and the airport became virtually non-functional.
“Now we have taken the bull by the horn, and as we speak we are expecting two aircraft, which government has already procured. These aircraft would operate daily flights to Lagos and Abuja. So wherever you have an airport, constant electricity and water, it is as good as any place you stay to eke out a living.
“Talking about smart city, we are equally developing a new city called the New Yenagoa City. It is a place my team will take you to see what we are doing. That is the kind of place a smart city will be very okay for our people.”
