FEDERAL SECRETARIAT PROJECT: Gov Diri Justifies Bayelsa's Position On High Cost of Project Execution

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri on Tuesday said the Federal Government had witnessed firsthand the comparatively high cost of executing infrastructural projects in the state. 

Governor Diri stated this at the official commissioning and handover ceremony of the Federal Secretariat in Yenagoa, which is named after former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan whose administration started the project back in 2011.

Represented by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Governor noted that the cost of constructing a kilometre of standard road in Bayelsa is required to construct four or more kilometers of the same grade of road elsewhere in the country.

He noted that the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Federal Secretariat which was initially pegged for N2.5 billion had to undergo a cost variation after the 2012 catastrophic flood and was completed at a total cost of N3.1 billion.

He expressed hope that with this experience, the Federal Government would henceforth be more cautious in matters of project cost evaluation and execution in Bayelsa State.

Governor Diri commended the President Muhammad Buhari-led administration for completing key infrastructural projects it inherited from the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan across the country.

The Bayelsa Chief Executive, however, pointed out that the outgoing President did not initiate any new project in Bayelsa throughout his eight years in office.

His words: "Some people who do not actually know what we are passing through in this state are quick to condemn us and make all sorts of comments about our level of development.

"But I'm happy and very sure that the Federal Government having passed through what we experience in Bayelsa State, will not make such comments. In Bayelsa here, we spend a lot of resources to clear the road and create land for construction.

"I'm happy that the story will change, going forward, because they (Federal Government) have seen that what will cost them N2 billion to build in Awka, Anambra State and Gusau in Zamfara will cost them N3 billion in Bayelsa State

"The Federal Government has seen that construction in Bayelsa here is more repulsive, resistant and difficult. The project here was billed for 2.5 billion but after the flood in 2012 it was redesigned and re-evaluated.

"While it is good that the Federal Government completed some of the projects started by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, we want to place it on record that, for the past eight years, we never saw one new project in Bayelsa State."

Earlier in his remarks at the virtual commissioning ceremony, President Muhammadu Buhari, noted that the successful completion of the secretariat projects in Yenagoa, Awka and Gusau would save the Federal Government from the expenditure of renting office accommodation for its workers in the three states.

The Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Federal Secretariat Project in Yenagoa, which was handled by MS Trenur Nigeria Limited has a total of 342 offices including a post office, a banking hall and a standard conference hall named after another illustrious son of Bayelsa State, Ambassador Godknows Igali.