Flood: Gov Dickson Approves Additional N100m For Relief Materials, Resettlement Of Victims
Governor Dickson had earlier approved N50 million
towards ameliorating the plight of victims of the disaster.
The governor announced the approval when members of
the Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA) led by chairman of its Board of
Trustees, Gen. Paul Alaowei Toun (retd), paid him a courtesy visit in
Government House, Yenagoa.
A press release by his Special Adviser on Public
Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as having directed the
Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Kemela Okara, the Chief of Staff,
Government House, Rt. Hon. Talford Ongolo, and other senior government
officials to coordinate the process of ensuring that displaced persons returned
to their homes.
He commended members of the IPA for establishing a
platform aimed at promoting the collective interests of Bayelsa and the entire
Ijaw nation and for building linkages for the welfare and wellbeing of the
people, describing the gesture as a rare spirit that needed to be encouraged.
Dickson, who stressed the need to build synergy on
ways to attract investments that could transform the state's economy, lauded
the IPA for sacrificing time and resources in enlightening the people within
and outside the state about the development efforts of his restoration
government.
In his remarks, Gen. Toun said they were in the state
to present the report of their tour of some key projects executed by the state
government.
The IPA BoT chair, who applauded the government's
relentless efforts at changing the narrative and landscape of the state,
commended Governor Dickson and his counterparts in the Niger Delta for
championing key issues affecting the region.
He
particularly cited the joint initiative of Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states
in securing the recent landmark judgement at the Supreme Court concerning the
sharing of revenue accruing from the sale of crude oil, describing the effort
as commendable.
Toun
also emphasised the need to intensify collaboration among the South-South
states as well as exercising leadership in reviving and co-funding the BRACED
Commission for the purpose of building a viable regional economy.
According
to him, there is need for more information on the status of key projects of the
state such as the Eco-Industrial Park, Agge Deep Seaport, Brass Fertilizer,
Brass Liquefied Natural Gas project and other opportunities that may be
available for indigenous professionals.
Also
speaking, president of the IPA Lagos chapter, Mr. Elaye Otrofanowei, said the
group carried out an independent visit and inspection to about 22 project sites
of the state government, including the ongoing Sagbama-Ekeremor road
construction, the international airport project, the diagnostic centre, the
Ijaw National Academy among other projects.
He said what they saw on ground convinced their team
that the government had embarked on projects that related to the needs of the
people.
Otrofanowei
also said that Governor Dickson had done well and that the IPA is ready to
support his administration in areas that require their professional input and
competence.
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