Bayelsa State has taken a major step towards boosting air travel and economic activity as it acquires two aircraft for commercial flight operations at the Bayelsa International Airport.
Governor Douye Diri disclosed the acquisition on Monday when he received the Prime Minister of the State of Africa in Diaspora, Dr. Tin Louise-George, at Government House, Yenagoa, during his maiden visit to Nigeria.
Diri stated that the aircraft, already procured by the state government, would soon arrive and begin daily flights between Yenagoa, Lagos, and Abuja, adding that the move was aimed at making the state-owned airport more viable and self-sustaining.
"We are working on ensuring regular, daily flights from Yenagoa to Lagos and Abuja. We had an arrangement with a private airline that became unsustainable, leaving the airport underutilised. Now, we have taken the bull by the horn. Two aircraft have been acquired and will soon begin commercial operations," the Governor said.
According to the Governor, reliable air transport, along with steady electricity and water supply, was critical to economic development and would help make Yenagoa a competitive hub for investment.
He also revealed that his administration was developing the New Yenagoa City, a planned urban expansion intended to support a proposed smart city initiative.
"Talking about smart city, we are equally developing a new city called the New Yenagoa City. That is the kind of place a smart city will be very okay for our people," Diri said.
Welcoming Dr. Louise-George and his team, the Governor likened the State of Africa in Diaspora initiative to "Doctors Without Borders," describing it as an inclusive African movement dedicated to transnational collaboration and development.
In his remarks, Louise-George said his visit was to explore partnerships in key sectors including aviation, smart city development, education, and healthcare.
He explained that the State of Africa in Diaspora was recognised by the African Union (AU) in 2003 as the continent’s sixth region, representing over 350 million people of African descent living outside Africa.
"Our objective is to reinforce Africa through the diaspora and the diaspora through Africa. We are ready to support and fund key development projects, including the expansion of your airport, establishment of a smart city, and building of education and medical facilities," he said.