Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has approved an additional N100 million for the provision of relief materials and the resettlement of flood victims across the eight local government areas of the state.
The governor announced the approval when members of the Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA), led by chairman of its Board of Trustees, Gen. Paul Alaowei Toun (rtd), paid him a courtesy visit, in Government House, Yenagoa.
A press release by his Special Adviser to the governor on Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as having directed the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Kemela Okara, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Rt. Hon. Talford Ongolo, and other senior government officials, to coordinate the process of ensuring that displaced persons returned to their homes.
He commended members of the IPA for establishing a platform aimed at promoting the collective interests of Bayelsa and the entire Ijaw nation and for building linkages for the welfare and well-being of the people, describing the gesture as a rare spirit that needed to be encouraged.
Governor Dickson, who stressed the need to build synergy on ways to attract investments that could transform the state’s economy, lauded the IPA for sacrificing time and resources in enlightening the people within and outside the state about the development efforts of his restoration government.
In his remarks, Toun said they were in the state to present the report of their tour of some key projects executed by the state government.
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The IPA BoT chair, who applauded the government’s relentless efforts at changing the narrative and landscape of the state, commended Governor Dickson and his counterparts in the Niger Delta region for championing key issues affecting the region.
He particularly cited the joint initiative of Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states in securing the recent landmark judgement at the Supreme Court concerning the sharing of revenue accruing from the sale of crude oil, describing the effort as commendable.
Toun also emphasised the need to intensify collaboration among the South-South states as well as exercising leadership in reviving and co-funding the BRACED Commission for the purpose of building a viable regional economy.