* Govt commences 22km Outer Ring Road Project in January
*Harps on compliance to COVID-19 protocols
By Emma Ogbuehi
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has charged citizens and residents of the state not to be discouraged by the effects of COVID-19 and the attendant economic challenges, assuring them that better days lie ahead.
Governor Diri, gave the assurance in his Christmas message to people of the state. The optimism comes as Government approves the commencement and construction of the 22-kilometer Igbogene-AIT Outer Ring Road project in Yenagoa from January 2021.
The governor urged the people to reflect on the message of the birth of Jesus, which is about love, peace and hope.
“For a world in need of healing and encouragement, the entire Christmas story is a harbinger of love, peace and hope.
“Bayelsa State, like much of the world, is also facing demanding times. But God has kept us through this difficult situation and season. More than at any other time, as we commemorate the birth of Jesus, we ought to take a moment to reflect and appreciate the fact that there is still hope of good tidings ahead of us as a people and as a state.”
The governor noted that despite the disruption and the hardship during the year, the promise of prosperity for everyone in Bayelsa still endures.
“Indeed, the prosperity of Bayelsa State is not negotiable,” he assures.
Governor Diri also stated that for Bayelsa, this should be a season of gratitude and thanksgiving considering the gloom in the state at this time a year ago.
“We have much to be thankful for. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic was relatively mild in our state. The peace and security paradigm has significantly improved and we just had an incident-free senatorial bye-elections, devoid of bloodletting.
“That is why I am fully persuaded that better days are ahead of us. Life will return to normal and by this time next year, when we congregate again to enjoy the festivities with our loved ones, things would have improved. I am confident that the Lord will keep us all till then.”
He also urged those that are privileged to be mindful of the people having tough time coping with harsh conditions and for them to extend their generosity and goodwill to as many as possible.
“This is not only in consonance with the true spirit of Christmas but encapsulates the character and nature of the average Bayelsan.
“Let us also endeavour to celebrate responsibly and carefully and avoid acts that endanger our lives and that of our loved ones while observing the COVID-19 protocols at all times.”
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Ayibaina Duba, made the disclosure on the commencement of the road project while briefing journalists at the end of the state Executive Council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
Throwing more light on the council decision, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Moses Teibowei, said the project, which was initiated by the immediate past administration in 2013, is part of the present administration’s desire to improve the state’s infrastructure.
Teibowei said the project, which would re-commence from the second week of January next year, would cost the state over N22 billion with a completion duration of 24 months.
He also spoke on the ongoing Edepie-Etegwe roundabout expansion project, stating that phase one was almost completed while phase two, which involves the building of a retaining wall and sand filling near the Etegwe bridge, would commence soon.
He said this would prevent encroachment and illegal trading on government’s right- of-way as well as beautify and make the place motorable.
His words: “In order to effectively improve on the infrastructure deficit of our state, a memo was presented to the Executive Council to the effect of constructing the Igbogene-AIT Outer Ring Road and the council did approve it.
“This was a project started by the last administration in 2013 but was stopped as a result of lack of funds. However, the Prosperity Administration, recognising the importance of the road, decided to give Bayelsans a New Year gift with the commencement of construction of the Igbogene-AIT Outer Ring Road.
“The length of the road is about 22 kilometres. By the grace of God, work would commence on that road with effect from the second week of January 2021.
“The project is expected to be completed in 24 months and the cost is over N22 billion.”
In a related development, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Pabara Igwele, stressed that in light of the second wave of COVID-19 spike in the country, council directed all civil servants, political appointees and government functionaries to know their COVID-19 status by going for testing immediately.
Igwele also said council directed the immediate commencement of active case search across the state, especially in Yenagoa, the state capital.
He said the COVID-19 guidelines approved by the Executive Council, which is to safeguard Bayelsans during the yuletide season, also directed all bars, night clubs, event and recreational centres, restaurants and hotels to ensure compliance with the COVID-19 protocols by the use of facemasks, washing of hands and physical distancing.
The Health Commissioner called on Bayelsans to restrict all informal and formal events, including weddings, conferences, congresses, office parties, concerts, seminars and all end of year events with not more than 50 persons in attendance.
Igwele added that all religious gatherings should not be more than 50 per cent capacity of the facility of use, in which physical distancing, mandatory use of facemasks would be strictly enforced.