Bayelsa State’s economic diversification drive received a lift at the weekend as the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese construction giant, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), in Beijing.
The agreement, signed by Governor Douye Diri on behalf of the state and Mr Chen Sichang, President of CCECC, covers wide-ranging sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, aquaculture and mass housing for civil servants and low-income residents.
According to a statement by the governor’s spokesman, Mr Daniel Alabrah, the pact builds on a recent partnership sealed with Dubai-based Jampur Group on October 14 in Abuja for the establishment of solar panels and smart electricity meter factories in Bayelsa.
Sichang described the new deal as "a landmark agreement," recalling that CCECC’s partnership with Bayelsa dated back to 2012, with several major projects completed over the years.
These include the Tombia Road, Niger Delta University (NDU) Road, Airport Access Road, Glory Drive Phase 2, and the Yenagoa–Angiama section of the Yenagoa–Oporoma Road.
He also mentioned the ongoing 630-metre Angiama–Oporoma Bridge — the longest standalone bridge ever constructed by CCECC in Nigeria, as evidence of the company’s strong collaboration with Bayelsa.
"The fact that such a significant project was awarded to our company is a clear reflection of Your Excellency’s strong confidence in our capabilities. We are fully committed to delivering the project on schedule and to the highest standards," he said.
Sichang added that Bayelsa remains one of CCECC’s most strategic partners in Nigeria, pledging fresh investment in road construction, power, water supply, mechanised agriculture, aquaculture, and fertiliser production to enhance food security and rural development.
Governor Diri, in his remarks, described CCECC as a "true development partner," adding that despite initial financial challenges inherited from previous administrations, his government had since cleared all outstanding debts owed to the company.
"When I assumed office and saw the quality of your work, I decided to continue with you. We see you not only as a construction firm but as partners in Bayelsa’s development journey," Diri said.
The governor also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu would be invited to commission the Angiama–Oporoma Bridge in February 2026, coinciding with the sixth anniversary of his administration.
He further revealed plans to prioritise mass housing projects within the remaining two years of his tenure, with emphasis on private sector-driven schemes in the proposed New Yenagoa City.
"This is one area we seriously desire partnership. We want housing, power, and water supply projects driven by private investment.
"From my first day in office, I resolved to provide our people with electricity and pipe-borne water, basic necessities that define modern living," he said.
The Governor Diri welcomed CCECC’s proposal for a fertiliser production plant, saying the state was ready to embrace innovative financing models that would position the company as both investor and financier, rather than merely a contractor.
"This partnership signals a new phase in Bayelsa’s economic transformation. We are building a state where infrastructure, agriculture, and industry work hand in hand to create prosperity for our people," he said.
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