Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Friday, swore in additional 15 commissioners bringing the total number of members of his cabinet to 29.
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The governor also created two new ministries, which are Blue Economy and that of Special Duties (General Services), which is in charge of non-indigene affairs.
Fourteen commissioners had been sworn in in the first batch on April 29.
Senator Diri also re-assigned the Commissioner for Special Duties (East), Preye Brodrick, to the Ministry of Transport while Mr Mandy Akpalo was assigned the Ministry of Special Duties (Central).
Also, Hon Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, who was earlier assigned the Labour, Employment and Productivity portfolio, is now the Commissioner for Information, Strategy and Orientation while Chief Saturday Omiloli is to oversee the Labour Ministry.
Hon. Alfred Belemote was assigned the Ministry of Community Development, Chief Thompson Amule retained his portfolio as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, while Mr Alla John is to man the Ministry of Tourism Development.
Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe takes charge of the Ministry of Health, Hon. Ebi Ben-Ololo (Environment), Hon. Alalibo West (Special Duties – East), Hon. Gibson Munalayefa (Communications, Science and Technology) Godspower Keku (Culture) and Chief Godspower Oporomo (Ijaw National Affairs).
Prof. Beke Sese was assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alfred Nimizigha (Youth Development), Dr. Faith Zibs (Blue Economy) and Mazi Onuma Johnson (Special Duties – General Services).
Governor Diri explained that the Blue Economy Ministry was created so the state could key into the federal government’s development of the country’s blue economy.
According to him, “the wealth of the state lies in the Atlantic Ocean. Beyond oil and gas, Bayelsa is rich in its maritime environment and more emphasis will be placed on the development of its blue economy.
“That is why we have taken it upon ourselves to construct the three senatorial roads from Yenagoa-Ukubie, Nembe-Brass and Sagbama-Ekeremor-Agge, which all lead to the Atlantic Ocean on the three flanks of the state.”
Diri also charged the Commissioners for Environment, Agriculture and Health to come up with ideas and strategies in tackling key priority areas of the Prosperity Administration, which include food security, health and environmental issues.
The state’s helmsman stressed the need to check illegal logging, oil bunkering activities and indiscriminate waste disposal.
“We must enhance food production through mass agriculture and develop new initiatives for cultivating crops that we have comparative advantage such as cassava, plantain and rice. Therefore the Commissioner for Agriculture has an uphill task. Bayelsa will no longer be importing rice but rather we should be exporting it.”
Describing health as a critical sector, he challenged the relevant ministry to upgrade the health delivery system to world class standards and continually improving the functionality of the Bayelsa Health lnsurance Scheme (BHIS).
The governor also noted that the decision to upgrade the non-indigene office from that of Special Adviser to a full-fledged ministry was in fulfillment of his campaign promise as well as the need to promote national integration.
While urging the cabinet members to ensure fruitful collaboration, steadfastness and uncompromising integrity as hallmarks of their service, Diri cautioned them that “failure is not an option and anyone found wanting will be promptly replaced.”
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