In 2025, Bayelsa Govt To Spend N178bn On Roads, N14bn On Power Supply
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Serious road and other basic infrastructure projects will be embarked upon by the government of Senator Douye Diri of Bayelsa State in 2025, in continuation of the governor’s commitment to open up the state and connect more communities by road.
Besides, the governor has also shown the readiness to invest heavily on power supply in the state. While the government intends to spend N178,761,088,407.32 for the construction of the Nembe/Brass Road, Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie Road, Ogu–Ayama–Okodi Road, Sabagreia – Polaku Road, Toru-Orua-Bolu-Orua-Kabeama- Ebeni Road, internal roads, Ultra-Modern State Secretariat, among others, about N14.5 billion is to be spent on gas systems, upgrade of various substations, provision of transformers, extension of feeders, 1mega watts pilot off-grid solar farms to complement power supply, distribution of network extensions.
These were disclosed by the governor on Thursday while presenting the 2025 budget estimate of N689 billion christened ‘budget of assured prosperity’ to the state house of assembly for consideration.
“Mr. Speaker, in reviewing the year 2024 budget implementation, I wish to state that a total of ₦489,443,632,374.00 (Four Hundred and Eighty-Nine Billion, Four Hundred and Forty-Three Million, Six Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy-Four Naira) and a supplementary budget of ₦270,800,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Seventy Billion, Eight Hundred Million Naira) was approved for the 2024 fiscal year.
“Let me state that in the course of the implementation of the 2024 budget, there were some extraneous moments triggered by global and national challenges on the economy. However, our performance is over 70% as at the third quarter of 2024. We have made significant strides in almost every sector of our economy,” he said.
Reviewing the 2024 budget performance, Diri said “our government has continued to demonstrate faithful devotion to roads and other critical infrastructure in the State. In tandem with our promise to connect all the LGA headquarters by road, we have continued with the construction of the Senatorial Roads.
“The 21km first phase of the Nembe-Brass Road with 10 bridges is progressing as planned and has reached an advanced stage. I am pleased to report that the 620m Angiama-Oporoma Bridge is over 50% completed. While waiting for the engineering timelines for the bridge, we have gone ahead with the construction work to Otuan and Oporoma across the River Nun.
We have also started the Glory Drive Phase III that will link Imgbi Road with a bridge crossing the Epie Creek. Similarly, the Commissioners’ and Legislators’ quarters and connecting roads within the New Yenagoa City is near completion. Other ongoing roads and infrastructure projects include the Ogu–Ayama– Okodi Road; the Sabagreia – Polaku Road; Toru-Orua-Bolu-Orua-Kabeama- Ebeni Road among others.
“Furthermore, in this 2024 fiscal year, we have completed a number of internal roads in Yenagoa and its environs as part of our deliberate policy to give a facelift to our State capital. We are also constructing internal roads in our communities. There is at least one road in each of the State’s constituencies and several wards.”
Apart from roads, Diri spoke about the efforts of his government in the areas of agriculture and sports development. He said: “Our efforts at developing the agricultural sector of our economy is also worth mentioning here. Mr. Speaker, in the outgoing year, our government provided support in different dimensions to ensure that the agriculture potential of the State are harnessed, and benefits derived from it.
“Consequently, we have continued the training of youths in various agricultural techniques and value chain activities within and outside the country. Furthermore, the State is in collaboration with the World Bank for the construction of 80km rural roads under the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) across the State. The designs for these projects have been completed by the State Government. The roads when completed will boost agricultural production/activities and enhance food security.
“This government recognizes that our youths are full of energy, which should be put to proper use. Therefore, we have invested heavily in sports development. These investments have also been yielding the desired results. Mr. Speaker, as recounted above, our achievements in the outgoing year is an open book, which well-meaning Bayelsans have continued to applaud.”
He said he was committed to an aggressive development agenda in the coming year, based on the decisions reached at the last retreat for members of the state executive council in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Diri said the government expected a revenue of ₦689,440,348,916.30 from statutory allocation, VAT , 13 per cent derivation, refunds on excess crude and exchange gains, including an expectation of N39billion from internally generated revenue and grants of N39.4 billion.
The government plans to embark on the “construction of additional science, technical and vocational colleges, construction of the NDU convocation arena, provision of school infrastructure, instructional materials, subventions to tertiary institutions and others. The sum of 47,111,696,194.40 is allocated.
“The construction of an ultra-modern stadium in Yenagoa, upgrading of stadia, competitions, athletes and talent development programmes. The sum of 37,850,000,000.00 is allocated. The construction of 1000 housing units across the eight LGAs. The sum of 13,680,000,000.00 is allocated.”
“Mr. Speaker, in our efforts at improving the management of funds, we carefully crafted this budget in a manner of 61.8 to 38.2 per cent ratio between the capital and recurrent expenditures. This is to enable us achieve projected dividends as encapsulated in the Assured Agenda.”
