The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has criticised the state government’s decision to embark on the Bayelsa proposed ₦100bn Stadium project, describing it as a misplaced priority at a time when residents are grappling with unemployment, poverty, poor healthcare, food insecurity and declining economic opportunities.
Key Highlights
- PDP faults Bayelsa proposed ₦100bn Stadium project.
- Opposition says funds should be channelled into job creation and economic development.
- Party questions neglect of the existing Samson Siasia Stadium.
- PDP demands full disclosure of the stadium’s contract, procurement process and funding.
- Calls on Governor Douye Diri to declare an economic recovery and food security initiative.
- Government urged to prioritise agriculture, industrialisation and youth empowerment.
In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Ikaebimo Mark, the opposition party said it was difficult to justify spending more than ₦100 billion on a new stadium while many Bayelsans struggle with hunger, unemployment, poor healthcare, inadequate access to clean drinking water and declining living standards.
The PDP said although it recognises the importance of sports infrastructure in modern development, such investments should not come at the expense of critical sectors capable of creating jobs and improving the welfare of citizens.
According to the party, the state government should instead prioritise investments in agriculture, industrialisation, education, healthcare and entrepreneurship to tackle the worsening economic hardship facing residents.
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The opposition also criticised what it described as inadequate funding for the agricultural sector, warning that many small businesses are collapsing under the weight of the current economic challenges.
It dismissed Governor Douye Diri’s justification that the stadium project would serve as a tool for youth empowerment, insisting that genuine empowerment should focus on creating employment opportunities and improving the economic well-being of young people.
“The PDP believes that the greatest infrastructure any government can build is the economic well-being of its people. Youth empowerment is not measured by the size of a stadium but by the number of young people gainfully employed, thriving businesses created, skilled entrepreneurs developed and investments attracted,” the statement said.
The party further questioned why the existing Samson Siasia Stadium has not been fully developed into a centre for talent discovery, sports tourism, grassroots sports development and sports entrepreneurship if sports remain a priority of the current administration.
It challenged the Bayelsa State Government to publish the number of youths allegedly empowered through sports programmes over the past six years, as well as the economic impact of such initiatives.
The PDP also demanded full public disclosure of the proposed stadium project, including its procurement process, contract value, funding arrangements, implementation timeline, project scope and expected economic benefits.
According to the party, Bayelsans deserve complete transparency on a project involving such a significant financial commitment.
The opposition maintained that the state urgently requires investments in industrial parks, agro-processing centres, technology hubs, vocational training institutes, manufacturing clusters and investment corridors capable of generating sustainable employment and stimulating economic growth.
It therefore urged the Diri administration to immediately declare a State Economic Recovery, Wealth Creation, Employment Generation and Food Security Initiative to address the worsening hardship confronting residents.
The PDP further called on the government to invest aggressively in agriculture, innovation, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and private sector development if it genuinely intends to empower Bayelsa youths and diversify the state’s economy.
