Governor Dickson Optimistic About Bayelsa State’s Economy

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has said that the economy of Bayelsa State would be greatly enhanced, with the completion of the ongoing Airport Project at Wilberforce Island, and the Deep Seaport at Agge in Ekeremor Local Government Area.

According to Governor Dickson, to fully harness the economic potentials of the two major projects, it is expedient to have a road linking the airport and the deep seaport, to serve as a means of transportation for goods and services to both terminals, as a complementary component.

The Governor also noted that the critical factor also informed the decision to site both projects on the same axis, as well as the completion of the Toru-Ebeni Bridge, which will be very critical to the operations of the air and sea ports.

Governor Dickson disclosed that, investors from different parts of the world, including Africa, Asia and Europe, have indicated interest in the Agge Deep Seaport Project, with discussions already in progress with some of the interested Countries and groups.

The AGGE Seaport Project

Governor Dickson said, “The Agge Deep Seaport Project is a very serious project embarked upon by our government. We appointed the World’s best in that sector and the Deputy Governor is responsible in harmonizing the issues that are involved. I know they have gone very  far, but they are liaising with the Federal Ministry of Transport, as ports are on the exclusive list.

“You know, I have spoken about the projects in London, South Africa and everywhere and so investors are keying in, but we want to get the paper work ready. That is why the road to Agge is important, because you can’t have a port there without a road that will evacuate what you will produce”

The Bayelsa State Governor, Dickson, who underscored the importance of a good road network and infrastructural base across the state, pointed out that, although the road from Ekeremor to Agge Seaport is to gulp up to a 100 billion naira, the present period was clearly one of the best times to build infrastructures for an emerging viable economy like Bayelsa.

Preparatory to the commencement of construction work at the Deep Seaport and the expected rise in activities, the Governor announced the acquisition of about 20,000 hectares of land around the port area, to build a port city, while also hoping that, the Federal Government could declare the area ‘a Free Trade Zone.’'