FG pledges to assist Bayelsa Govt to construct 3.5 k airport runway

THE Federal Government has pledged to assist the Bayelsa State government in the construction of its 3.5 kilometer airport runway in a bid to open up the state for investment.

Speaking in Abuja while receiving the Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson, the Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi expressed the readiness of the federal government in providing all the necessary assistance that would enable the timely completion of the airport project.

Amaechi thanked the Governor for coming to discuss issues concerning the airport..” What I can guarantee you in line with the resolution of the federal government is to encourage infrastructural development”. He said Bayelsa terrain is a difficult place for infrastructural development due to waters that surround the states.

He acknowledged the need for the federal government to assist the state in infrastructural development. He also reaffirmed government commitment in linking all the state of the federation by rail. “Our job is to ensure that we provide all the necessary mechanisms for the investment.”

“Our railway project from Lagos to Calabar will include passing through Otuoke and once we commence construction, we will ensure we carry railway lines to the state capitals and other communities.”

“It will be very difficult to construct a railway line in riverine areas in Nigeria. I had told former President that there is need to invest in the reclamation of land in Bayelsa because the state is surrounded by water. We have more rivers and cricks. Everywhere in Bayelsa is water and I praise you a lot for being able to carry out development projects because you have to first reclaim land before carrying out the projects.

Amaechi explained that, “the cost of development in Bayelsa triple many states in the federation. As a former governor, I tell people that what it takes to do a road project in Rivers state can construct 10 roads in other states” he said.

On his part, the Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson commended the federal government for the pursue of infrustructural development particularly in the transport sector. “I commend the federal government and your ministry for activating core programs and initiatives on railways. The railways that you are constructing should get to many places in Bayelsa state as possible.”

“Some states are hopeful to also be part of the wonderful railway connectivity project of the federal government. The government have been making serious investments in this sector and we are currently building a 3.5 kilometers runway airport in Bayelsa and I’m here to solicit your cooperation, partnership and collaboration of this ministry, all other federal agencies and related ministries in terms of how the airport can be put to very effective and beneficial use” he said

“Our intentions in investing in that infrastructure is not just for leisure, our expectation is for the airport to be a free zone on its own so we need technical support and encouragement.”

He also appealed to the Minister for his support and approval to open up Bayelsa state that according to him has been hitherto Locked up by harnessing the potentials of the Agge deep seaport.

“On the basis of the reports we have seen,  we believe that a good investment case can be made for the deep seaport,  we have concluded our technical studies and before we make our formal application to set in the necessary processes and mechanisms, so I thought to formally come here to seek your support for the actualisation of the big seaport project.”

Dickson urged every Nigerian that irrespective of partisan differences that when elections are over that politicians and leaders should set aside political differences and concentrate on good governance.