The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has called on residents to turn out in large numbers ahead of the scheduled visit of President Bola Tinubu on April 10, 2026, describing the occasion as a defining moment for the state.
Diri made the appeal on Easter Sunday during a church service at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Sampou, his hometown in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area (LGA).
He said the presidential visit would provide an opportunity for Bayelsans to demonstrate their hospitality while drawing national attention to key development projects nearing completion.
According to the governor, the projects lined up for inauguration during the one-day visit are central to Bayelsa’s economic growth and long-term transformation.
He urged residents to maintain peace and unity before, during and after the visit, stressing that harmony remained a core value of the Ijaw people.
Addressing the congregation, Diri said the state’s culture of warmth and peaceful coexistence should be reflected in the reception accorded to the president and other visitors expected for the event.
READ ALSO: Bayelsa Police Disburse N16.18m to Families of Fallen Officers
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to infrastructure-led development, saying sustained investment in critical projects was aimed at positioning Bayelsa as a viable destination for business, tourism and economic expansion.
Among the projects listed was a 60-megawatt gas turbine power plant, which the governor described as vital to improving electricity supply across the state.
He said reliable power was essential for industrial activity and broader economic progress.
The governor also pointed to the 630-metre Angiama–Oporoma Bridge as a huge achievement for the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA) and that it would, for the first time in decades, provide direct road access to Yenagoa.
“For more than 60 years, Southern Ijaw communities have been cut off by the absence of road infrastructure. This bridge changes that narrative,” he said.
According to Diri, the project would unlock new economic and social opportunities.
“These are legacy projects that will positively impact our people and open up Bayelsa for greater opportunities,” he added.
Reflecting on the Easter celebration, he urged residents to draw lessons from the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, mentioning love, unity and collective responsibility as values needed to sustain peace and development in the state.