Dennis Sami
13 May 2008
column
Lagos — Going by the words of Chief Timipre Sylva at his inauguration as the executive Governor of Bayelsa State on 29, May, 2007, a lot can be achievable in the coastal state. He gave hope and inspiration to the people as to what they should expect. Chief Sylva assured the Bayelsa people of great co-operation for better things to come. And, in less than one year, many things unfolded in Bayelsa State.
No doubt, the assumption of Chief Sylva as governor cannot be said to go uneventful as many policies and programmes were achieved. Under the health sector, facilities were renovated across the state while new ones were hatched. The government was poised to give the people of the state a first class health care delivery. On going is the five-star hospital project at Yenagoa which would be among the best in the country with state of the art equipments. Also, best medical personnel would be brought to oversee the hospital. Besides, the quality of equipments to be installed, according to the state government, would be such that there will be no need for anybody to go overseas for medical check-up or treatment.
Again, it is expected that the medical hospital would also serve as a tourist attraction of some sort. On the whole, the state government stressed that after the completion of the ultra-modern hospital, concentration will be focused on the various cottage hospitals spread across all the local governments. Apart from all these, the Opolo health centre in Yenagoa local government now assumes the status of a general hospital. Also, the health ministry had signed an understanding with reputable international health institutions for the hospitals. Under it, there would be a 60% to 40% ratio partnership for exchange of manpower, counterpart funding and management. Under Chief Sylva, the health sector had received unprecedented attention ever before throughout the state and at all levels.
In agricultural development, Chief Sylva paid N177 million as counterpart fund for the tripartite progrannmes. These include, community-based National Resources Management Programmes, Fadama Development Project, Root and Tiber Expansion Programme and National Programme for Food and Security. Again, only in March this year, the Bayelsa State government gave 18 co-operative associations loans amounting to N6.315 million. These loans would help farmers increase the hectares of their farms to produce enough food for the state.
However, the on-going N50 billion fish company project is perhaps one of the greatest ideas of Chief Sylva administration. The company will be able to generate enough employment and improve the revenue base of the state. In fact, the fishing project is done by turning a 7-kilometer Creek into natural pond. It is expected that fingerlings would be poured into it and huge yearly revenue would be accruable to the state. It would also boost food security in the state. Under Chief Timipre Sylva as governor of Bayelsa Sate, the reputation of the Universal Basic Education Board was better appreciated and turned around with the discovery of ghost workers thereby saving the state of enormous funds. This was in addition to the checks at the local government councils where numerous ghost workers were discovered. With these and the audit at the civil service, cases of ghost names and high wage bill had been reduced. Hitherto, the monthly wage bill for Bayelsa State was over N2 billion but now curtailed. This act should be encouraged and appreciated.
At a recent forum at Twon-Brass shortly before the election were annulled, Chief Sylva spoke of the need to take the state to another level through the effective provision of good facilities and service delivery. While stressing that, the state needs to bring out a visionary prospect; it requires building a collective colossal economic base and rapid development. All these, Chief Sylva pointed out forms the rallying areas which will make the state a referral point in Nigeria.
It is already a known fact that the establishment of a Central Business District in Yenagoa, the state capital, is on course. The multi-national district is to bring would-be international and national companies and investors to do business under one zone. Rather than travel long distances, investors can round-off a deal without course to traveling long distances. Of course, related to this would be the advantage of tourism which Bayelsa is known for. With this vision, many areas of revenue and economic development will be enhanced. Apart from this aspect, three companies are poised to commence business in the state. They are a ballpoint pen manufacturing, a computer assembling outfit and a cement bagging company. These outfits will provide jobs and other opportunities for the teeming youths of the state. In fact, returning from an overseas trip to seek investors in January this year, Chief Sylva assured that massive construction would begin as government was geared towards commitment to take the state to the next level.
The state government under Chief Sylva administration, expressed interest over the completion of the five-star hotel at the Swali area. On completion, the hotel would boost economic and tourism activities. And coupled with the business and natural coastal attractions of Bayelsa, revenue base would be pushed-up. Tourists would take advantage of the two major museums at Nembe called Olodi and Mangrove museums. These historical museums are fully stocked with artifacts that date hundreds of years past. Among the numerous cultural festivals in Bayelsa State includes, Eremutoru in Peretoru, Ikpai-Kpai in Ekowe, Opuaduno Lake fishing festival in Akeddeowi/Opuaduno and Uge Adiafa in Atissa clan in Yenagoa to mention a few. It is expected that when investors come for business they could blend it with appreciating these cultural endowments. That is the initiative of Chief Sylva.
In the area of collaborative approach, Bayelsa State Government went into dialogue with stakeholders especially to calm youth restiveness and understanding for meaningful development. In fact, it was Chief Sylva that suggested that the federal government and states of the Niger Delta should establish a directorate of re-orientation which will help re-direct the energies of the Youths for productive development and other issues to be tackled. Inward, the government had been able to hold consultations with communities and multi-national concerns to make all parties understand the need for restraint for development to take place. A stakeholders dialogue was held regarding work on Ogbia-Nembe joint road project being executed by Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC. The resumption of the project should be attributed to Chief Sylva.
Definitely, Chief Sylva has done well as governor of Bayelsa state given the less than one year at Creek Haven, government House, Yenagoa. He was able to repackage the state in several sectors and should be given the credit.
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