Being text of the New Year Broadcast of His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, to people of the state on January 1, 2025
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My dear fellow Bayelsans and residents, I bring warm greetings and kind regards from your government of Assured Prosperity.
Like a flash, it has been 366 days since I had the privilege of addressing you, to mark the beginning of the year 2024.
As we begin a new year, I am filled with a sense of hope and optimism, eager to build on the progress we have made and to work assiduously towards a better, brighter, and greater future for our great State.Let me express my deepest appreciation to the Almighty God, the Author and Sustainer of life, for His goodness, grace and mercies that have preserved us throughout the past year.
Notably this is my first New Year’s broadcast since you decisively re-elected the Deputy Governor, His Excellency Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and I, for another four-year term. Once again, I want to express my gratitude to you, the good people of Bayelsa State, for your trust and confidence. You have my guarantee that you can count on us to work tirelessly, always striving for excellence and never giving up, because we truly believe in the potential of our state, the youths and its people to thrive and prosper.
We acknowledge that the past year was challenging, particularly the country’s economic landscape and the exchange rate depreciation that is impacting all sectors of our society.
Nevertheless, because we have been prudent in spending of our state’s resources, and prioritising expenditure to fulfill our mandate of shared prosperity, we have achieved significant progress on our legacy projects, including key infrastructure initiatives to unlock the treasures of the Atlantic Ocean and harness the potential of the Blue Economy.
We have made considerable strides to give enduring facelift to the state capital with the construction and rehabilitation of access and several internal roads, which have improved connectivity and accessibility. We are currently making effort to ensure reliable power supply that will bolster economic activities in our state. This is coming after four months of power outage as a result of sabotage and theft of transmission towers. I thank you all for your patience during the long period of power outage. We are now progressing towards ensuring sustainable and independent power supply with the procurement and eventual installation of a 60-megawatt gas turbine during the course of this year.
Also, security remains a top priority for our administration, and we are taking concrete steps to strengthen our position as one of the safest and most secure states in Nigeria. Our commitment to safety is highlighted by the soon to be installed Close Circuit Cameras (CCTV) and the refurbishing of existing ones around the state capital, reflecting our dedication to keeping communities within the Yenagoa metropolis secure.
In tandem with ongoing efforts to revitalise and strengthen our state’s infrastructure, our educational institutions and healthcare facilities continue to receive critical attention and targeted investment, thereby ensuring they meet the highest standards of excellence and provide first-rate services to our citizens.
The reforms we introduced at the local government level are beginning to bear fruits. Chairmen and heads of the various Rural Development Authorities are delivering projects and programmes that have direct bearing on our people.
This administration has been dedicated to ensuring our civil servants earn wages that truly reflect the value of their hard work and contributions. Already, government and the organs of labour have resolved the gray areas arising from the newly approved minimum wage for our state civil servants, which reflect our commitment to a well-motivated workforce in the state
As we move forward in the New Year and in line with our rebranded ASSURED PROSPERITY AGENDA, our government is taking on additional signature projects across various sectors. We look forward to launch “The Prosperity Estates”, a groundbreaking housing scheme that will bring 1000 affordable homes to our state capital and local government areas. This initiative is a major milestone in our mission to make housing more accessible and affordable for all citizens. By providing these affordable units, we are not only addressing the pressing housing needs of our community but also driving the overall growth and development of our state, creating a better future for everyone.
Also, sports enthusiasts in Bayelsa are eager to see the commencement of our plan to construct an ultra-modern stadium in Yenagoa. It is going to be a game-changer, offering world-class facilities that will inspire and support our talented sportsmen and women. By providing a top-notch environment, we are creating opportunities for our young people to get involved in sports, develop their skills, and strive for excellence. This will undoubtedly help them achieve greater heights in their respective sports.
In the realm of agriculture, we are proactively pursuing sustainable food production. To this end, we shall be providing farmers in the state with comprehensive support, including equipment, expert guidance, and high-quality seedlings and stems. Our strategic focus shall be on cultivating crops wherein our state holds a comparative advantage, notably rice, cassava, plantain while ensuring an enhancement of their value chain. Already, our partnership and bilateral relationship with the Republic of South Korea is yielding positive results. Indeed, just a few days ago, I received a technical team from South Korea who were in our state to train our farmers in modern rice cultivation. The team has also installed state-of-the-art rice processing mills at the School-to-Land farm in Yenagoa as we continue our ambitious rice revolution programme. A core component of our agricultural and food security agenda this term is the “Produce and Consume” initiative, which emphasises the importance of producing what we eat and eating what we produce. This approach is designed to promote self-sufficiency, reduce reliance on imports, and ensure that our citizens have access to fresh, locally grown food, thereby enhancing our food security and supporting the growth of our local economy.
As we amplify our efforts to draw in investments from both international and domestic sources, I extend a warm invitation to our Ijaw brothers and sisters in the Diaspora to redirect their focus towards their ancestral homeland. I am pleased to assert that our state boasts the most secure and welcoming environment for professionals and entrepreneurs to thrive, as well as for individuals to relax and unwind, setting us apart as a haven among other states in the country. We eagerly anticipate the opportunities to collaborate with our brethren to unlock the vast potential that our state has to offer.
As I round off this broadcast, let me remind us of our yearly practice of announcing a new State Covenant Verse for the year 2025, one that reflects our deep-seated conviction and resolute trust in our Heavenly Father’s divine sovereignty. This verse serves as a beacon of hope, and a declaration of our dependence on God’s sovereign guidance as we navigate the complexities and challenges of the new year.
It is derived from Psalm 2:4 – “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.”
This is a powerful and comforting verse that speaks to God’s presence and protection in the midst of challenging circumstances.
With the dawn of this new year, we remain committed to driving progress and prosperity for our state and its people. We will not be complacent or satisfied with the status quo. Instead, we will keep pushing the limits of what is achievable. I am genuinely optimistic about the future, and I have every confidence that together, we will accomplish amazing things and create a brighter tomorrow for all.
Let us stand together as one, united in our vision and driven by a common purpose. By combining our strengths and collective efforts, we can turn obstacles into stepping stones and bring our aspirations to life. As a government, we call for continuous understanding and support for all ongoing developmental efforts. Join hands with us in this journey towards building a brighter, safer and more prosperous future for all Bayelsans through our ASSURED Prosperity Agenda in this second term.
Thank you and may God continue to bless Bayelsa!
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