PANDEF Hails Diri’s Legacy Projects Ahead of Tinubu’s Bayelsa Visit

 

By Wilson Macaulay

 

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has commended Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, for what it described as visionary and transformational infrastructure projects, ahead of the scheduled working visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the state on April 10, 2026.

 

The commendation was contained in a press statement signed by PANDEF National Chairman, Godknows Boladei Igali, in response to an invitation extended to the regional body to witness the commissioning of key legacy projects across the state.

 

Among the projects slated for inauguration are the Bayelsa Independent Power Project, the New Yenagoa City Road 1 linking the Airport Road, and the 630-metre Angiama–Oporoma Bridge, all of which PANDEF described as critical to the socio-economic transformation of the state.

 

Igali noted that the commissioning ceremony represents a defining moment not only for Bayelsa but for the wider Niger Delta region.

 

He said the Independent Power Project, in particular, marks a significant step towards energy independence, leveraging the state’s abundant gas resources to generate sustainable electricity.

 

He explained that the initiative is expected to drive industrial growth, support small and medium-scale enterprises, and improve the overall standard of living of residents.

 

“Positioning Bayelsa State to generate its own electricity from its vast gas reserves is both visionary and profound,” Igali stated, adding that the project places the state on a path of economic self-reliance and sustainable development.

 

The PANDEF chairman also lauded Governor Diri for the completion of the Angiama, Oporoma Bridge and its adjoining road network, which now links the previously isolated Southern Ijaw axis to other parts of the state and the country.

 

He said the project fulfils a long-standing aspiration of the people in one of the region’s major oil-producing areas, opening up new opportunities for commerce, mobility and integration.

 

Describing the projects as “legacy interventions,” PANDEF stressed that their impact would be felt for generations, significantly reshaping Bayelsa’s development trajectory.

 

The forum added that such investments not only address immediate infrastructure gaps but also lay a solid foundation for long-term prosperity.

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President Tinubu’s visit, the group noted, underscores the Federal Government’s recognition of Bayelsa’s growing strategic importance in Nigeria’s energy and infrastructure landscape.

 

Pundits believe the event could further strengthen collaboration between the federal and state governments, particularly in power generation, regional connectivity and resource optimisation.

 

Stakeholders across the Niger Delta have also interpreted PANDEF’s endorsement as a strong vote of confidence in Governor Diri’s leadership, which has been marked by sustained investment in critical infrastructure despite economic constraints.

 

In his concluding remarks, Igali expressed optimism that the visit would usher in a new phase of accelerated development and renewed hope for the people of Bayelsa State.

 

With anticipation building ahead of the April 10 event, expectations remain high that the commissioning of the projects will consolidate the state’s development gains and reinforce its position as a key player in Nigeria’s drive for sustainable energy and infrastructure growth.