The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bayelsa

  • ‘Bayelsa paid contractors N10bn in January’

    The Bayelsa State Government paid contractors handling various projects in the state N10.2billion in January.

    Speaking at a briefing at the Government House,  Deputy Governor  John Jonah said the disbursements were made to contractors handling projects in education, sports, transport, golf course and other road projects.

    Jonah said the state incurred recurrent expenditure of N1.9 billion in January adding that N1.5 billion was used to service commercial bank loans.

    He noted that civil servants’ salaries gulped N3.6billion while political appointees were settled with N256.3 million.

    But the deputy governor said the state received gross inflow of N9.2 billion consisting of statutory allocation N1.2 billion; derivation N3.2 billion; Value Added Tax (VAT) N689 million; Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) N1.5billion; budget support N1.1billion; exchange differences N1.4billion and refunds N57.5million.

    He said the net inflows from the Federation Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) stood at N7.8 billion after deducting bond N421 million; foreign loan N29.8 million; restructured bank loan N741.1 million; bailout to states N11.3 million; agricultural loans N66.6 million and excess crude loan N126.6 million.

    He said the state also received money from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) N863.2 million and Sterling Bank loan of N3 billion to buy vehicles for security outfits.

    He said after all the expenses, the stage had a balance of N6.9 billion which JT carried forward to February.

    Jonah further explained that the government would complete the repayment of the N50 billion bond loan inherited from the previous administration in 2019, following the successful renegotiation of the facility.

    He said based on the restructuring, the amount paid monthly had been reduced from N1.24 billion to N422 million, in view of the economic downturn.

    He said the state government had concluded payment on scheme 1 of the Commercial Agricultural loan, while it paid the usual N66.7 million for the scheme 2.

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation Jonathan Obuebite said the transparency policy of the administration would be strengthened, with the collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    “The ICPC chairman who was in Bayelsa State about three days ago described Bayelsa as one of the most corruption-free states in the country. The accountability and transparency of the Restoration Government is yielding fruits,” he said.

  • Bayelsa 12-year-old authors book

    Bayelsa 12-year-old authors book

    It was not surprising that a Bayelsa State born Master Biboye Afenfia became an author at the age of 12. He is simply a chip off the old block. He takes after his father, Michael Afenfia, one of the prolific writers from the Niger Delta region.

    Afenfia, the father of Biboye, who is currently the Bayelsa State Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors, is credited with some notable books like ‘Don’t Die on Wednesday’. So, like father like son, Biboye developed the brilliance of his father showed some super-intelligence with his book, ‘Paxoid’.

    Biboye is a class three pupil of Aiyedumo Premiere School (Junior Secondary School) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital. He says the fictional novel is aimed at using the character of Patrick to inspire youths and kids.

    He says kids like him should not be limited by their age. He wants children to aim higher in life and use their talents to help humanity. The young writer, a proud Ijaw boy, is excited at his debut novel. He attributes his success to fail to the important roles his father and mother played in making the novel a reality.

    He says:  ”My dad played an important role. He helped me a lot. He believed in my story and gave me the courage to write. When I started, he was there for me till the end.

    ”The book was clearly my idea. My father was only my mentor. I am not quite sure if not for my dad, I would have got the support and encouragement this early.

    ”What I set out to achieve with this fictional novel is to encourage people, particularly the young people that they are not too young to achieve great things. You are not too young to do everything you dream of.”

    Giving insight into the prose of the book, the young writer says it is all about a 14-year-old boy called Patrick, an only child, who now begins to expect another sibling.

    ”Patrick has been an only child all his life and so the news that he was going to have a junior really sounded strange to him. He decided to go somewhere alone in order to ponder and digest the strange news properly.

    ”On his casual observation of his environment, Patrick met two strange men who gave him a medallion which conferred certain magical powers on him with a piece of advice to use it to save humanity”, Biboye says.

    According to him the book explores Patrick’s ability to use his new status for positive reasons by preparing to shoulder an additional responsibility of a big brother to his would-be sibling.

    On the reason behind Paxoid, the young writer notes that the title is inspired by the heroic name Patrick. He says the name is adopted to hide the real identity of the character. The title ‘Paxoid’ is a mixture of the first two letters of his name with the heroic name of his choice, ‘Android’.

    Biboye says: ”Kids can learn that they can be someone in the society, no matter who they are or their background. They just need to be themselves.

    ”Kids should also learn to use any power or talent they have to help others and remain humble in greatness. In the book, we can see that Patrick got the medallion because someone who had it before him misused it and arrogance consumed him.”

    On the reception of the book by his friends in his school, Biboye says he has grown taller among his friends, adding that his cousins, friends and mates have been pouring encomiums on him for his effort.

    The young writer says he is not yet done with writing books, adding that he has started working on the continuation of Paxoid.

    ”My ambition as a writer is to write books that will give good values to children. I want to go into full-time writing and take it as a career,” he adds.

    Biboye prays for God’s strength and grace, explaining that he usually uses his free time to write.

    The 12-year-old says: ”Whenever I have free time I will use it to write. As for the course I intend to study in the university, I have yet to decide on it as I have interest in many different things. But time will surely tell.

    “But I can tell you that I want to be an author. I will soon start work on the continuation. The story is not over yet.”

  • NDDC redeploys 11 directors in major shake-up

    NDDC redeploys 11 directors in major shake-up

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has redeployed 11 directors to different offices and directorates to boost its performance in the development of the Niger Delta.

    The Managing Director of NDDC, Mr Nsima Ekere, said on Thursday in Port Harcourt that the decision to shake-up the NDDC was taken after the commission’s retreat in Port Harcourt.

    He said the affected directors were drawn from the commission’s offices in Abuja, Bayelsa, Imo, Ondo, Delta and Rivers states.

    The NDDC chief gave the names of the affected officers redeployed as: Dr Princewill Ekanim, who was redeployed to the office of the Managing Director as Director of Special Duties.

    Mr Effiong Ephraim moves from Special Duties to head Abuja Liaison office, while Mrs Rachael Odiri, formerly Head of Bayelsa State office now heads Abuja office.

    Also, Mr Wanoro Weli, a former Director in charge of Utility Infrastructure Development and Waterways would head Ondo State office, replacing Mr Emma Audu who becomes Director of Project Monitoring and Supervision.

    In similar vein, Mr Nosa Agbongiasede takes charge of Imo State office, while Godwin Jaja, formerly Director of Imo office would take charge of Human Resources Directorate.

    Mr Etim Eyoette was elevated to the position of Acting Director, Utility Infrastructure Development and Waterways (UIDW), while Mr Ndubuisi Ahiakwo was moved from UIDW in Delta to Project Monitoring and Supervision (Western Zone).

    Mr Uno Uno now heads Project Monitoring and Supervision (Eastern Zone) while Mr Felix Aomreore becomes Head, Project Monitoring and Supervision (Central Zone).

    Ekere said the redeployment would enable the commission to actualise reforms designed to restore the commission’s core mandate and improve the living conditions of residents in the Niger Delta.

    `We are taking actions to reform our operations for optimum performance; and part of the first step was to deploy officers to where they would offer better service.

    “It is important to offer the region and our people better service; improve the quality of our projects; and ensure that we pay for projects and programmes that we implement,” he said. (NAN)

  • Is Dickson on course in Bayelsa?

    Is Dickson on course in Bayelsa?

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson’s media aide Daniel Iworiso-Markson highlights the achievements of his boss in the last five years and his action plan for the remaining part of his second term in office.

    In Bayelsa State, February 14 is celebrated as the ‘Restoration Day.’ Since February 14, 2012, it as been celebrated as the begining of a new dawn when Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson was sworn-in alongside his deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), as governor and deputy governor respectively.
    One significant development on that auspicious day at the Isaac Boro Square, Peace Park, Yenagoa when the governor took the oath of office and oath of allegiance was the manner in which he responded to being saddled with the responsibility of repositioning the state back to its lost glory.
    Earlier, while declaring his intention to contest for the number one office in the state, Dickson stated: “We need someone who has the unique understanding of the issues and priorities of the time who can rally support in the interest and welfare of the people. I know that several families have lost young and dear ones, several families have lost their means of livelihood and businesses, the educational dreams of our young people have been truncated, our commonwealth squandered, our collective psyche traumatized and our future mortgaged.”
    He stated further that to restore the future of the state he had set up a formidable campaign appropriately called Restoration 2012 with the theme, Our Bayelsa, Our Pride and promised to establish an Economic Advisory Council which will lay the foundation to produce a blueprint to revamp the local economy focusing on commerce, small and medium scale enterprises, agriculture, energy and tourism.
    Also, in his inugural speech, Dickson stated: “My government will undertake fundamental reform of the governance culture to emphasize transparency, accountability, due process and value re-orientation by all institutions and functionaries of government beginning with my humble self.”
    To ensure transparency and accountability, Governor Dickson took the bull by the horns and sent a bill to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly making it a law to hold monthly transparency briefings where he would tell Bayelsans the state of their finances and by the provisions of the law, he is liable to be impeached if he fails to hold transparency briefing for three months – this the governor has held in high esteem by fulfilling his promise to the citizenry.
    Since 2012, the governor has reeled out the account of the state which is the first of its kind in Nigeria by telling them how much comes in and how it is expended, an action that has given the common man on the street a sense of belonging by knowing what is happening to the account of the state.
    Dickson, in the true spirit of restoration, saw the need to restore the security of life and property in the state as a paramount issue which he tackled head on by introducing Operation Doo Akpo to replace the deadly and dreaded Operation Famou Tangbe which was introduced by his predecessor.
    Through Operation Doo Akpo, peace and security was restored in the state, dignity, harmony and trust were also restored, night life that had eluded the people for years was also restored and today, one can walk the streets of Yenagoa without fear of molestation, hence Bayelsa is adjudged the safest state in the South-South region.
    As part of efforts to strengthen this vital aspect of security in the state, the State Executive Council had in its 70th meeting approved the provision of 50 Hilux vehicles to Operation Doo Akpo to effectively police the state in order to rid all neighbourhoods of criminal elements.
    Governor Dickson also spread his security tentacles along the waterways by re-inventing the Bayelsa Volunteers in order to protect travelers and traders along the numerous creeks and rivers in the state from the activities of pirates, kidnappers and other criminally minded people.
    In the area of infrastructure, Governor Dickson promised to turn the state into a huge construction site and he kept that promise in the first two years of his administration: he is changing the landscape of Yenagoa, the capital through the dualization of several roads and construction of new ones as well as continuing with the drive to hit the Atlantic Ocean on three fronts at Brass in the Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Koluama in the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District and Agge in Bayelsa West Senatorial District.
    One of the most important infrastructural projects embarked upon by the Restoration Government is the construction of the International Cargo Airport near Amassoma which is nearing completion with a runway of 3.5 kilometres comparable to only three airports in the country namely, the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Kano International Airport and Abuja International Airport.
    Some of the other laudable road projects started by the restoration government include the dualization of Federal Medical Centre Road, Road Safety Road, Water Board Road, Diete Spiff Road, Isaac Boro Expressway, Azikoro Road, Eastern Ring Road, the link road from Mbiama – Yenagoa Road to Gloryland Drive at Igbogene, the Igbogene Bridge, the flyover at the NNPC Mega Station and Tombia Bridge.
    In the housing sector, Governor Dickson has done remarkably well in building the Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat, five new Secretariat Annexes to accommodate more ministries and parastatals, Police Officers Mess and many more including the buildings for archives and monuments and a music school in addition to housing estates in some local government areas.
    A firm believer in education to change the fortunes of the people, Dickson embarked on several infrastructural projects to transform primary, secondary and tertiary education in hundreds of communities across the eight local government areas of the state.
    The projects include rehabilitation and reconstruction of primary schools with headmasters quarters and room for information communication technology, constituency secondary schools with boarding facilities and the establishment of tertiary institutions as well as vocational institutions like the International School of Tourism and Hospitality.
    As well as giving life back to the once scrapped Bayelsa State College of Arts and Science (BYCAS), he relocated the state College of Education from Okpoama to Sagbama and named it Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education for effective take off and now Africa University, Toru Orua while working assiduously to strengthen other existing universities like the Niger Delta University (NDU), Wilberforce Island, School of Health Technology, Otuogidi and the School of Nursing, Tombia.
    The government recently approved an annual amount of N10 billion to be invested in the development of infrastructure in all its tertiary institutions top among which is a befitting Senate building to be constructed at the Niger Delta University at the cost of N2.7 billion.
    In the area of agriculture, Bayelsa has comparative advantage in the aquaculture and the governor revamping the sector to create jobs and diversify the economy of the state to create multiple income sources by building the 500-pond fish farm at Yenigue which is in the process of being replicated in all the local government areas of the state.
    The 240 tonnes per day cassava processing mill is nearly completed which will add impetus to the production of cassava for both domestic and commercial uses, the Bayelsa Oil Palm Estate management has been handed over to a private concern for improved profit while efforts are on to harness the great potentials in rice production.
    Another key area in which the restoration government is excelling is the electrification of some communities especially across the Ikoli River (Obogoro, Akaba, Ogu and Famgbe) which had been neglected by previous administrations and the extension of the national grid to Sagbama Local Government Area as well as the building of substations in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area to bring governance closer to the people.
    In order to make quality healthcare service available to the people, the Restoration Government embarked on the building of four referral hospitals in Sagbama, Ekeremor, Nembe and Kaiama which will be commissioned soon in addition to several cottage hospitals and health centres in the rural areas.
    As part of efforts to harness medical tourism in the state and country, Governor Dickson built the state of the art Diagnostic Centre which ranks among the best in Nigeria and a forensic laboratory which is one of the three presently operating in the country, built residential quarters for medical doctors at the 350-Bed Hospital; the state government also embarked on the construction of residential quarters to house 120 interns at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa and the Government House Hospital which has both private and public wings.
    As a man of integrity, Dickson brought innovation into the politics of Bayelsa State where he preaches peace and does not see politics as a do or die affair, urging the people on the need for continuity to enable the Restoration Government deliver on its mandate to the people which saw him win a second term in office.
    Of paramount interest are the ongoing efforts to reform the state civil service by reducing the workforce and make it more result oriented while embarking on the development of the human capacity of the workers through regular training.
    In a bid to pull the state out of the present financial quagmire, Dickson is reengineering the state’s ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) not to remain cost centres but centres of service and profits for the benefit of the state and unborn generations.
    Five years into the administration of a great son of Ijaw land, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, the Oforumapepe which is by interpretation, the Great White Shark, the man who delved into the Bayelsa State river of politics where no ordinary man dare to swim, the man who fought six battles and won them all, is actually touching every sector in the state ranging from security, economy, agriculture, infrastructure, education, politics and human capacity development amongst others.
    The fifth anniversary occasion on Tuesday February 14 will formally have the following projects being commissioned; the new Governors office, the
    Integrated security command and control center, the? Government House hospital complex, Executive helipad and access road as well as the Diagnostic center.

    Others are the Development partners research center, Civil servants clinic, the Drug mart,
    House officers / Interns quarters, ?Secretariat Annexes, Cultural Boulevard, Ox-bow lake pavilion,
    33KV line electrification of 5 Atissa communities across Ekole creek, the Chief Melford Okilo medical quarters, police station and restaurant.
    Also to be commissioned are; 33KV line electrification of Ox-bow tourist facilities, AIT/Sanni Abacha road, Transparency plaza,
    Referral hospital Sagbama, 33KV electrification of Tarakiri Rural development area communities,
    33KV line electrification of Sampou and Agbere communities, the NYSC Orientation camp phase one, Orubiri, Club house, Sagbama 1×7.5 MVA injection substation and School of Midwifery, Tombia.
    The rest are; 33KV line electrification of Amassoma community, Ground breaking for Senate building at NDU Amassoma, Flagging off of internal road construction at NDU, Upgrade of Nembe 5MVA, unmanned injection substation to 7.5MVA at Otatubo, Nembe National grammar school, Fish farm at Yenegwe, Ijaw National Academy, Poultry farm at Ebedebiri and Referral hospital Kaiama.

  • Bayelsa urged to stay action on land allocation for grazing

    A group, Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA), yesterday urged Bayelsa State government to stay action on its plan to allocate 1,200 hectares to herdsmen for grazing.

    Mr. Iniruo Wills and Mr. Elaye Otrofanowei, the homeland chapter president I and president in charge of Lagos chapter, in a statement in Yenagoa, enjoined Governor Seriake Dickson to put the decision on hold until after stakeholders’ consultations.

    They condemned the attack by suspected members of Bayelsa State Volunteers on a group of Ijaw stakeholders during a peaceful protest in Yenagoa

    The IPA decried what it called “the hypocritical role played by security agents and top public officers” who supervised the alleged assault on the protesters.

    It wondered why such violence would be unleashed on the stakeholders, who protested peacefully on February14 in “The Jerusalem of Ijaw Nation”.

    “This is a most dangerous and grossly undemocratic practice that must not be allowed in Ijaw land or indeed in Nigeria.

    “The peaceful exercise of fundamental rights to freedom of assembly, expression and peaceful protest under the law, should not to be forcefully denied or suppressed, whether by official or unofficial forces,” the organisation said.

    It advised the governor to “urgently conduct a wide consultation to get further insights on the subject by allowing stakeholders to express their views and allay the deeply held apprehension.”

    IPA urged the National Human Rights Commission and the Inspector-General of Police to order an independent investigation into the February 14 incident.

    It said the probe would unravel the truth and ensure redress for the victims, adding that culprits would be brought to justice.

  • Governor okays pharmaceutical plant for Bayelsa

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has said establishment of a pharmaceutical plant by Enbay Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, in partnership with foreign companies, will aid industrialisation.

    Deputy Governor Gboribiogha John Jonah spoke on behalf of the governor when the firm’s Managing Director, Mr. Eneye Oweifie, visited the Government House in Yenagoa.

    He said the kind gesture, which was first of its kind, would complement government’s efforts in job creation.

    The governor said he dreamt of such development-oriented projects for a long time, adding that the government would ensure the plant, which was the first to be built at the Bayelsa Industrial Park, began operation as soon as possible.

    Trade, Industry and Investment Commissioner Kemela Okara said the plant, which would be sited at the industrial park at Gbarantoru, Bayelsa State, was a joint venture programme between Bayelsa State Development Investment Corporation and the pharmaceutical company.

    Oweifie said his company and other partners were putting finishing touches towards the take-off of the plant.

    He said his company was partnering pharmaceutical companies from the United Kingdom, Germany and Austria, stressing that the building of the plant would boost employment opportunities.

  • Cleric urges Bayelsa to clear salary arrears

    A clergyman, Rev. T. Y. Emmanuel, has urged the Bayelsa State government to clear six-month salary arrears owed workers, to avert God’s wrath.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the cleric gave the advice in Yenagoa during a church service to commemorate first anniversary of Governor Seriake Dickson’s second tenure in office.

    Emmanuel, who was the guest preacher, advised the governor to seek solace in God.

    “God is angry when you don’t pay workers. God has asked me to tell you that hired servants should be properly paid,” he said.

    The clergyman said the assignment given by God to public leadership was for a purpose and the purpose was to serve God and benefit mankind.

    Emmanuel, who titled his sermon: “Make God Your Refuge,” quoted from books in the Bible including Psalm 127, James 5:1-5 and Deuteronomy 24:14-15 to illustrate his points.

    He said it was important for the government to appreciate the essence of God’s purpose for instituting government authority for mankind.

    “When God gives a man leadership, there is an assignment he wants to fulfil. Every government is of God, though it may have human mistakes.

    “The cries of the hired servants have come to God and He has heard them. Misapplication of riches is what poses danger, we need wisdom from God to function,” the cleric added.

    Governor Dickson said his re-election for second tenure was tough, but he emerged victorious because God’s hand was upon him.

    He said his government was making efforts within the limited resources available and would take steps to enhance the welfare of its workforce.

    Dickson said the government had achieved so much in the first one year of his second term, in infrastructure, education, health and agriculture, among others.

    “Our dreams are so high that you can’t even use a ladder to see. In the midst of recession, we are building the best schools, roads and hospitals,” he said.

  • Osinbajo’s visit to Bayelsa unites Dickson, Sylva

    Osinbajo’s visit to Bayelsa unites Dickson, Sylva

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and his predecessor, Chief Timipre Sylva, at the weekend met for the first time since the controversial 2015/2016 governorship elections.

    The meeting of the two political foes happened during Friday’s visit of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and his team on their visit to the Niger Delta region.

    There was apprehension in the camps of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when news filtered in that Sylva was on Osinbajo’s entourage.

    Residents were worried about the likely outcome of a meeting between Dickson and Sylva, who had remained political foes after the elections.

    The worries were believed not to be out of place, considering the hate, jabs and tantrums that characterised electioneering and political actions during the poll and lingered months after.

    People recalled how Dickson, the candidate of PDP, described Sylva, the standard bearer of APC, as a “guy man”, while Sylva called the governor a “bushman”.

    But when they met at the weekend, their attitudes betrayed their supporters’ expectations.

    It was a dramatic moment as Sylva to shook hands with Dickson, who exchanged pleasantries with members of Osinbajo’s team at the heliport of the Government House in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    With a broad smile, Dickson told Sylva: “Countryman! Countryman!!” and warmly shook hands with him as Sylva returned the gesture with an infectious smile.

    Dickson turned to someone standing beside Sylva, saying: “Your friend (Sylva) is running away from me.”

    But Sylva replied: “I am not running away from you.”

    Everybody laughed.

    Some Ijaw leaders were happy at the development and thanked Osinbajo during a town hall meeting at the Banquet Hall in Yenagoa for uniting the two gladiators.

    Before presenting his council’s demands to Osinbajo, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide President Udengs Eradiri dwelt on the peace between Sylva and Dickson as one of the blessings of the visit.

    The IYC chief said it was remarkable the visit brought together the state chairmen of APC and PDP as well as Ijaw people from various political divides.

    He said: “I want to, on behalf of the Ijaw nation, thank your Excellency, the Acting President, for bringing peace to Bayelsa. This is the first political leader that will bring together two leaders of the Ijaw land.

    “Ijaw people across various political divides sit together. We thank you because our state really needs to be healed politically. Thank you for bringing peace.”

    Even Masters of Ceremony (MC) Ebi Abi noted that it was the first time APC and PDP state chairmen sat together.

    Dickson created more excitement among the crowd with his speech.

    He said: “Join me to welcome my immediate past predecessor. I was glad when I saw him at the heliport while waiting to receive the Acting President.”

    Addressing Sylva, he said: “My dear brother, since the end of our campaign, this is the first time I am seeing you. It is good to see that you are looking very well and handsome. That is the spirit of the new Bayelsa.”

  • Activist praises Osinbajo for visiting Bayelsa

    Activist praises Osinbajo for visiting Bayelsa

    A Port Harcourt environmental activist, Mr. Celestine Akpobari, has described Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s visit to Bayelsa State as a step in the right direction.

    He told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Port Harcourt the visit gave the Federal Government opportunity to dialogue with the people on the way forward.

    Osibanjo was in the oil-rich state in continuation of government’s diplomatic moves to end militancy in the Niger Delta and increase crude oil production.

    “The people have been marginalised despite huge contribution from their land to the economy.

    “Economically, the nation can’t survive for now without the resources from the Niger Delta,” he said.

    According to Akpobari, the visit should be followed with more development in the Niger Delta.

    “Usually, when even a local government chairman visits a community, the people will smile because a project will accompany such a visit.

    “Let there be a reasonable outcome of this visit that will make the people smile,” he added.

    The acting president led a Federal Government’s delegation on a similar visit to Delta State last month, and he is expected to visit Rivers State soon.

  • Tight security in Yenagoa as Osinbajo visits Bayelsa

    Tight security in Yenagoa as Osinbajo visits Bayelsa

    Security has been beefed up in Yenagoa, as the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, visits Bayelsa on Friday in continuation of  his fact-finding tour of the Niger Delta region.

    Armed soldiers, policemen and the  Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel deployed for duties  were visible on the streets and strategic parts of the Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Traffic was diverted from the roads leading to Bayelsa Government House, Ovom area, where Prof. Osinbajo is expected to hold an interactive session with stakeholders on the ongoing peace process in the region.

    Pedestrians were, however, allowed to pass through the road after screening by security operatives.

    The Bayelsa Police Command`s Spokesman, DSP Asinim Butswat, told NAN on Friday that the command was adequately prepared to make the visit hitch-free and warned miscreants to keep away from venue of the interactive session.

    “Attendance is strictly on invitation.

    ‘‘The Command therefore advises all law abiding citizens to go about their lawful and legitimate businesses.

    “The gathering of people not invited for the programme at any point within the state will not be tolerated, as adequate security measures have been put in place to curtail activities of miscreants,” Butswat said. (NAN)