Bayelsa State has taken a significant step towards improving air transportation in the region with the procurement of two aircraft for commercial flight operations.
Governor Douye Diri disclosed this during a courtesy visit on him, by the Prime Minister of the State of Africa in Diaspora, Dr. Tin Louise-George, on Monday to Government House, Yenagoa.
According to Governor Diri, the aircraft are expected to arrive soon and will operate daily flights to Lagos and Abuja.
He noted that the initiative is part of the state government’s efforts to make the Bayelsa International Airport more commercially effective for flight operations.
The Governor explained that the previous arrangement with a private airline had almost collapsed, but the state government had now taken the initiative to procure its own aircraft.
While welcoming Dr. Louise-George on his maiden visit to Nigeria and Bayelsa, he described the State of Africa in Diaspora as akin to Doctors Without Borders.
He expressed his administration’s determination to ensure regular daily flights and to develop the airport into a major hub for air transportation in the region.
He said the state government was ready for partnership in the area of the airport expansion and development of a smart city.
“I heartily welcome you and your team to Bayelsa. We are happy to note that you are here in Nigeria for the first time.
“Let me acknowledge that I had a fruitful virtual meeting with you and your team when I was recently in London, which was facilitated by my Technical Adviser, Professor Oweikumo Eradiri.
“As an African government without borders, we know you have a lot for us, ” he said.
He added, ”my Technical Adviser had earlier presented the plans we have in developing our state. The airport is one of them, which certainly needs expansion.
”We are working on the airport in the area of ensuring there are regular, daily flights.
”We had an arrangement with a private airline, which we were supporting for flights to and fro Lagos and Abuja. But it got to a point where that arrangement almost collapsed and the airport became virtually non-functional.
“Now we have taken the bull by the horn, and as we speak we are expecting two aircraft, which government has already procured.
”These aircraft would operate daily flights to Lagos and Abuja. So wherever you have an airport, constant electricity and water, it is as good as any place you stay to eke out a living.
“Talking about smart city, we are equally developing a new city called the New Yenagoa City.
”It is a place my team will take you to see what we are doing. That is the kind of place a smart city will be very okay for our people.”
Earlier, Dr. Louise-George, proposed development support and funding for selected projects in the state through a cooperation agreement.
He cited the Africa Union’s resolution establishing the Africa in Diaspora as the sixth region of Africa and expressed his organisation’s willingness to support Bayelsa State in areas such as aviation, smart city development, education, and medical facilities.
He explained that in 2003, Heads of State of the Africa Union unanimously adopted a resolution establishing the Africa in Diaspora as the sixth region of Africa.
The prime minister said there were 350 million people of African descent living outside of Africa and that he had the mandate of the Africa Union to represent them.
He stated that besides the government, which he leads, a parliament and a royal chamber, there were programmes of action for development, with the objective to reinforce Africa through the diaspora and the diaspora through Africa.
He said the visit to Bayelsa was to explore areas of collaboration in aviation, provide support for a smart city, education and medical facilities among other sectors.
“Our objective is to reinforce Africa through the diaspora and the diaspora through Africa. And we are very happy to have this opportunity to come to Bayelsa State and Nigeria.
”What we want to do is propose support, development and funding.
“This morning, I saw the airport and I know you want to extend it. We are ready to provide the resources to develop this airport, a smart city somewhere, education and a medical complex. We will be happy to contribute.”
The visit by the Prime Minister of the State of Africa in Diaspora marked an important step towards exploring potential partnerships and collaborations between Bayelsa State and the diaspora community.
The state government’s efforts to develop its airport and infrastructure are expected to have a positive impact on the economy and the lives of the people.
The development of the airport and the smart city project are expected to attract investments and create jobs for the people of Bayelsa State.
