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… Diri Bags Best Governor Award, Georgia’s Honorary Citizenship
By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said his administration was encouraging investment in the state with incentives such as tax holiday and provision of land.
Governor Diri, who was the keynote speaker at the 10th International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership in New York, United States of America, on Tuesday, also stated that with power now on the concurrent list, his administration was committed to enhancing electricity supply in the state with signing of its electricity law as well as revamping its gas turbines to generate and distribute 24-hour power.
The Bayelsa helmsman, who showcased the investment and economic potentialities of the state, averred that its wealth were more in its maritime domain and that the government was diversifying the economy from its dependence on largely oil revenue.
He said this necessitated the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the first state to do so in Nigeria, as well as vigorously constructing roads to access the Atlantic Ocean on the three senatorial flanks of the state.
He also urged investors to take advantage of the state’s abundant gas reserves to partner the government in establishing industries and create employment opportunities.
Diri stated that the government had prioritised security to encourage investors to come into the state.
He said: “During the first four years of our administration, we made a deliberate choice to brand our government as the “Prosperity Government.” Prosperity has been the guiding principle of our work – not merely an attractive mantra, but an honest belief that propels us as we strive for the betterment of our people.
“Bayelsa has enormous economic potential based on its location and natural resources. It sits on an extremely fertile land area, which is part of the third largest wetlands and mangrove forests in the world, contributing immensely to carbon sequestration.
“Our state is endowed with the longest coastline in Nigeria, measuring 203km, and is a natural access point to the Gulf of Guinea (one of the richest fishing waters in the world).
“Bayelsa has the widest access to the Atlantic Ocean in Nigeria. Therefore, it is an ideal location for international trade for West Africa, the Gulf of Guinea and beyond.
“In addition, Bayelsa has the largest gas reserves in Nigeria, exceeding 18 trillion cubic feet and supplies 60% of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) resources.
“We are also developing a template for tax relief to investors just as we are looking at providing land as the state’s equity contribution to interested investors.
“Security of lives and property is our priority. We employed more of a non-kinetic approach to conflict resolution by engaging stakeholders. We have invested significantly in upgrading our security apparatus by deploying state-of-the-art equipment and technology.”
Governor Diri said the government was leveraging technology to improve the education sector with the introduction of a technology-driven tool known as BayelsaPRIME (Bayelsa Promoting Reform to Improve and Modernise Education) as well as establishing of technical and vocational schools across the state to equip students with the skills to be self-dependent.
He added that the tuition, accommodation and feeding cost of the students are borne by the state government.
The governor expressed the hope that Bayelsa would gain a lot from the forum and solicited partnership to “develop innovative solutions to our environmental challenges, create jobs and economic opportunities for our people, improve access to healthcare and education, and build infrastructure that support business and investment.”
Director-General of the Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency (BIPA), Barr. Patience Abah, also spoke on the investment prospects in the state.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of the Best Performing Governor Award by Founder/Executive Chairman of the African Leadership Magazine, Dr Ken Giami, as well as the bestowing of honorary citizenship of the State of Georgia on Diri and legislative recognition of the South Carolina State Legislature.
Another honoree, Senator Sunday Katung representing Kaduna South, received the African Leadership Legislative Excellence Award.
The event held on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and organised by the African Leadership Magazine attracted several political, business and industry leaders, including President and Chairman, United States Export-Import Bank, Reta Jo Lewis, Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Dr. Kevin Greenidge, and President/Chief Executive Officer of Hightower Petroleum, Stephen Hightower.
Also in attendance were Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, Dee Dawkins-Haigler, former chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Harry Kalaba, former Zambia Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman, Citizens First Party of Zambia as well as Ms Nomvule Mokonyane, Deputy Secretary General of the African National Congress in South Africa and other leaders from Angola, Ghana, Uganda and South Africa.