BY Felix Jeremiah, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson at the weekend swore in two new commissioners with a call on them to abide by the principles of probity, prudence, transparency and service which his administration represents.
Those sworn in were Mr Nimibofa Ayawei as commissioner for Housing, while Mr Julius Otele is to man the ministry of Tourism Development.
Governor Dickson, who also swore in a part time representative of the state in the Niger Delta Development Commission board, Mr Ball Oyarede as his Special Adviser on general duties, charged the appointees to show unflinching support and loyalty to the restoration government to enable it provide more democratic dividends to the people.
He reaffirmed the present administration’s commitmitment to diversifying the economy of the state through tourism, agriculture and promotion of small and medium enterprises and manufacturing activities by providing the enabling environment.
According to the governor, his administration will not relent in its efforts at pursuing aggressive infrastructuraldevelopment and making Bayelsa more secure to attract well meaning investors, which he noted have started streaming into the state.
He particularly urged the commissioner for housing to midwife a major housing scheme, that will benefit the generality of the people, not only in Yenagoa, the state capital, but also at the various local government areas.
The Governor said, “For the ministry of housing development, the Honourable commissioner, who will help pilot our various housing programmes. You are already conversant with some of the initiatives that we have started in that sector. We want to see mega housing projects, not only in Yenagoa, so that we can reduce the challenges we have been facing in that area.
” We are also having a system where in very few monthsfrom now, we want to see housing estates in local government areas. Some of these projects have started in some of our communities and council headquarters. So, working with your colleagues, you are expected to midwife the delivery of robust housing projects in this state in no distant time.
Underscoring the critical role tourism plays in modern economies, Hon. Dickson noted that efforts were underway to establish a school of tourism in the state to meet the manpower needs of the subsector.
He described the state government decision to host major tourism and entertainment related events as deliberate, adding that ” already the steps we have taken in the past two years to market and reposition the image of our state through this effort have started yielding tremendous fruits in all sectors.
” It is drawing investors and business leaders to the state and with the results that this government has achieved in the area of maintaining peace and security by working with the security agencies, we count on you to give leadership and drive to that ministry, so that, our tourism facilities, cultural activities and carnivals could be enhanced and upgraded.
Dignitaries who witnessed the swearing-in included Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Konbowei Benson, Hon Inaye Aganaba, who represented the state Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, President Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Ayah and Chairman, Bayelsa Oil Company, King Amalate Turner.
