The dream for a Deep Sea Port in Agge in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State is legendary and as old as the creation of the State. Every successive Administration in the State had toyed with the idea of a Deep Sea Port in Agge. From Late DSP Alamieyeseigha to the incumbent Gov Douye Diri, the need to construct this natural deep Seaport has always attracted traction as a legacy project that should be taken out of the drawing board. But if my memory serves me right, more often than not, these intentions have died up the moment the saliva which followed such pronouncements dried up. But to be fair to former Governor Seriake Dickson ,he should perhaps be singled out as the only occupant of CREEK HAVEN, who made the best of attempts to move from motion to movement when he commissioned the Capt Warredi led Committee which reportedly engaged the Nigerian Army to carry out an hydrographic survey of Agge, a move that got a lot of Stakeholders curious. Why the Army and not the Nigerian Navy?, some had asked at that time. And true to prediction, the Nigerian Army, as it were , had nothing to show for the huge funds ploughed into this seeming misadventures by Seriake Dickson led Administration. And since coming into the saddle nearly five years ago, Governor Douye Diri, seems not to have raised the bar in his commitment to the take off of Project Agge Deep Seaport.
However , when early in the year he created a Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and appointed, Dr Faith Zibs Godwin, as its pioneer Commissioner to take charge of the new Ministry, the Governor seem to have proven some the doubting Thomases wrong. By this singular action, Bayelsa was not just the first State to do so, it sent a strong message that Gov Douye Diri, was set to take a bold step to harness the the huge potentials and opportunities which abound in the Marine and Blue Economy domain. And to further underscore his commitment, Sen Douye Diri last Monday led a powerful delegation to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola in Abuja. Among other things, the visit was to explore areas of partnership and collaboration between Bayelsa State and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy . One of the high points of the parley was a pledge by Oyetola to lend a helping hand to Gov Douye Diri to get the Agge Deep Seaport off the drawing Board. But the question many would want to ask is how realistic this would be given the limited time left for the Governor to serve out his tenure? On the other hand, wouldn’t it be wise for Gov Douye Diri to grab a lower hanging fruit which is the Brass Seaport, which at the moment appears very functional and could adequately play the role of a seaport?
COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES OF BRASS OVER AGGE DEEP SEAPORT. Brass and Agge are located along Bayelsa Sate Coastline. Both have the potential to activate the economic development of the State. However, the difference between the two is that Brass is a low hanging fruit begging to be harvested whilst Agge is certainly a long term investment which will not materialize in the life of the Douye Diri Administration. For example, Brass can boast of a strategic connectivity and proximity to Oil and Gas terminals and platforms .Brass is home to Brass LNG facilities, processing plants as well as the Brass Fertilizer plant and Petrochemicals. Besides, the 21 km road to Brass has commenced while the first bridge is completed. On the other hand, it is estimated that at least that N300b of scarce resources is needed to construct the road to Agge . If Gov Douye Diri is looking out for low hanging fruits that could industrialize the State and shore up the IGR of the State, he doesn’t have to look too far.
Brass also benefits from being a strategic location for Maritime activities due to its established oil terminals and proximity to international routes. This makes it ideal for exports, Shipping and port development activities. There are also in existence jetties and other loading facilities due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Agge though coastal in nature is yet to have the same level of port Infrastructure or maritime activity. Brass is also an investment hub as well as tourists destination.