As part of activities marking his administration’s fifth anniversary, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has inaugurated several development projects, including the commissioning of the Road 24 High Profile Road in Okaka, Yenagoa, and the launch of a statewide free medical outreach.
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, who commissioned the road on Monday, praised Governor Diri for his developmental strides and judicious use of federal allocation. Otu, the vice chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, commended Diri for completing projects inherited from his predecessor, emphasizing the importance of continuity in governance.
“Governor Diri has shown bold and courageous leadership. With his commitment to development, Bayelsa is on the path to enjoying 24-hour power supply,” Otu said while urging residents to continue supporting the government.
In his remarks, Governor Diri said the state capital, Yenagoa, was undergoing a transformation, with new projects improving the city’s outlook. According to him, the road project, initiated by his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson, was completed by his administration to ensure it serves the people’s needs.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Moses Teibowei, disclosed that the dual carriageway, equipped with solar-powered lights, measures 1,475 meters with a nine-meter width on each side. The road, he said, was initially awarded in 2012 before being re-awarded to the same contractor under Diri’s administration due to its poor state.
Governor Diri also flagged off a free medical outreach in Ikarama community, underlining his administration’s commitment to quality healthcare. He highlighted that the outreach was a tradition of his anniversary celebrations, reflecting the importance of health in the state’s prosperity agenda.
“We cannot talk about prosperity without addressing healthcare. That is why we always start our anniversaries with a medical outreach,” Diri said, adding that the renovated hospital in Ikarama would now serve as a functional cottage hospital with full medical staff.
In his goodwill message, Dr. Marcus Oluwadare of the World Health Organization (WHO) commended the governor’s support for health initiatives, noting that the government’s proactive approach helped contain five disease outbreaks in 2024, including a cholera outbreak.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, said the medical outreach was aimed at providing free healthcare services, including minor surgeries, polio vaccination, and the distribution of mosquito nets and food supplements. He encouraged residents of Ikarama and surrounding communities to take full advantage of the hospital’s services.
Traditional ruler of Ikarama, His Royal Highness Wariebi Jonah, expressed gratitude to the governor for revamping the hospital and ensuring its operation.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, and other top government officials and traditional rulers.
