Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has again appealed to the federal government to make good its promise of supporting the state in developing the Agge Deep Seaport.
Gov. Diri made the appeal at the flag-off of the marine safety sensitization and distribution of life jackets for inland water travels at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Yenagoa.
Represented at the ceremony by Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the governor described the Agge Seaport project as a gateway to regional and international trade that would be of immense benefit to the state and the country at large.
Gov. Diri, who assured the federal government of his administration’s commitment to actualising the project, called for effective collaboration from all critical stakeholders including development partners.
“We are happy that you have spoken profusely about the Agge Deep Seaport. But we will be happier if all of us work together in pursuing this endeavour to its completion and use.
“We need complementation and not competition; collaboration and not confrontation because we believe that it is in collaborating and complementing each other that we can achieve the Agge Deep Seaport project
“The Agge Deep Seaport is not only important to Bayelsa. It will not only open the gateway to Bayelsa, but also open the gateway to the Nigerian economy in several ways,” the governor said.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for selecting Bayelsa State as one of the inaugural states for the marine safety initiative.
The Bayelsa governor urged the people of the state, particularly boat drivers and their passengers to be more safety conscious by always making use of the life jackets, describing safety as a collective endeavour.
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“I call upon all stakeholders-traditional institutions, transport unions, community leaders and security agencies to collaborate with us. Safety is a collective endeavour, and development is a shared pursuit.
“A life jacket is not a hindrance, but a lifesaver. It’s your protection, your safeguard. Wear it, encourage others to do the same, and let us cultivate a culture where safety is valued as a strength, not stigmatized as a weakness,” Gov. Diri advised.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, acknowledged the Gov. Diri-led prosperity administration’s alignment with the federal government’s vision on marine economy.
Chief Oyetola pledged the federal government’s commitment towards the actualisation of the Agge Deep Seaport project to engender job creation, economic development and attract local and foreign investments to the Niger Delta region and beyond.
Highpoint of the ceremony which had in attendance, the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, and several government officials, including the Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Faith Zibs-Godwin, was the flag off and distribution of safety materials.
