Saturday, March 7Nigeria's Authoritative Maritime News Magazine
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Gov Douye Diri to Bayelsans: Dont Send Goodwill Messages on my Birthday

Gov Douye Diri to Bayelsans: Dont Send Goodwill Messages on my Birthday

News Feature
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has advised his appointees to join him in prayers for God's wisdom and direction to govern the state instead of spending money on congratulatory messages in the media or on celebration. Governor Diri, who turns 62 on June 4, said in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, on Wednesday, that what he needed on his birthday was prayers to remain focused as the task ahead was enormous. He urged all his appointees to be patient and remain committed to delivering on their assignments as the time for celebration would come. Governor Diri explained that he was not against private individuals or corporate organisations congratulating him in the media but that state funds need not be channelled to such gestures. "At...
Niger state boat mishap: A national tragedy says Atbowaton.

Niger state boat mishap: A national tragedy says Atbowaton.

News Feature, Press Release
The malele, Niger state boat mishap in which about 76 persons died and still counting, has been described as a national tragedy and embrassment by Mr Gani Tarzan Balogun President, Association of Tourist Boat Operators and water Transporters of Nigeria ( atbowaton). Mr Balogun who decried the very poor response and attention to the national tragedy by both federal and state governments, noted that the recent mishap was not the first on that water route, adding no serious attention has been paid to dredge and remove wreck from the malele kebbi Waterways. " I can't understand it, the usual blame game against water transporters and boat operators. The stereotype and the often rush to call boat operators names without due investigation to find out if overloading and sundry operational fa...
Gov. Diri Condemns Attack On Diette-Spiff  *Warns Against Secret GMoUs

Gov. Diri Condemns Attack On Diette-Spiff *Warns Against Secret GMoUs

News Feature
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has condemned the attack on the Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, by youths of the kingdom. King Diete-Spiff was the first Military Governor of the old Rivers State and current chairman of the state Traditional Rulers Council. Governor Diri expressed his displeasure on Monday during a meeting with leaders of Twon-Brass in Brass Local Government Area to resolve misunderstandings in the area. In a press statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, the governor acknowledged the right of people to embark on peaceful protests but frowned at the recourse to the misguided attack on the monarch. He warned the youths to shun violence, adding that government would not condone further attack on the revered ...
Gov. Diri Tasks INC On Ijaw Nation’s Challenges

Gov. Diri Tasks INC On Ijaw Nation’s Challenges

News Feature
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has urged the new leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to build linkages at home and abroad in order to successfully address the Ijaw nation's challenges. Governor Diri, who expressed confidence in the capacity of the new leadership to effectively champion the cause of the Ijaw people, applauded their change of strategy in seeking a better deal in the Nigerian state. He spoke on Friday during a courtesy visit by the executive council members of the INC to Government House, Yenagoa. The governor in a press release issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, challenged the ethnic nationality apex socio-cultural body to foster unity among all Ijaws and speak with one voice, particularly at a time that other ethnic nati...
Blue Economy: Wike Applauds Jamoh’s Giant Strides

Blue Economy: Wike Applauds Jamoh’s Giant Strides

Maritime, News Feature
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike ,has commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for designing and pursuing a Blue Economy strategy purposed to replace the current oil economy in about 10 years. Wike stated this in Port Harcourt, when he received the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, who was on a courtesy visit. The governor said NIMASA’s plan for sustainable use of Nigeria’s abundant maritime resources was in line with the country’s economic diversification drive. Jamoh earlier appealed for greater involvement of the littoral states in the implementation of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure – also called the Deep Blue Project. The security scheme, which is domiciled in NIMASA and being executed in co...
Ijaw Nation’ll Sustain Boro’s Legacies – Gov. Diri

Ijaw Nation’ll Sustain Boro’s Legacies – Gov. Diri

News Feature
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the Ijaw nation would continue to agitate for the realisation of the ideals of equity, justice and freedom that the late Major Jasper Adaka Boro fought and died for. Governor Diri stated this on Sunday during the 2021 Boro Day celebration at Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area. The governor also re-emphasised the need for the Federal Government to restructure the country so the Niger Delta can manage its resources, develop at its own pace and pay taxes to the centre. In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, Diri acknowledged that some of the issues the late Niger Delta hero agitated for have been achieved but that a lot still needed to be achieved. His words: "Clearly, Isaac Boro has d...
Why I Have No Political Enemies — Gov. Diri

Why I Have No Political Enemies — Gov. Diri

News Feature
  Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has revealed how the virtue of love towards all practised by his mother, late Mrs. Rose Diri, shaped his political philosophy of seeing nobody as his enemy. Senator Diri disclosed this on Saturday at Ayamasa, his maternal hometown in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state, during the eighth-year wreath-laying ceremony in honour of his mom. Madam Diri was born on May 15, 1939 and died on her birthday 74 years later on May 15, 2013. The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said his late mother was the perfect examplar of the woman and wife captured in Proverbs 31 of the Holy Bible. He described his mother as a woman that accommodated everyone that came across her while alive and ne...
Electronic Voting Will Ensure Rancour-free Elections In Nigeria, Says Gov Diri  *INC Warns Secessionists

Electronic Voting Will Ensure Rancour-free Elections In Nigeria, Says Gov Diri *INC Warns Secessionists

News Feature, Press Release
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the hitch-free conduct of the recent Ijaw National Congress (INC) election indicated that Nigeria can hold rancour-free national elections. Governor Diri stated this on Friday during the inauguration of the new INC leadership at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa. He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adopt electronic voting to avoid conflicts during elections. A statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, noted that the failure of the country's electoral body to adopt e-voting has led to politicisation of revered state institutions and disrespect to such institutions. The governor also said that the adoption of e-voting would provide an opportunity for Nigerians in the Diaspora to choo...
Huge Wage Bill: Bayelsa Govt Won’t Downsize Workforce – Finance Commissioner *Declares Income, Expenditure For Two Months

Huge Wage Bill: Bayelsa Govt Won’t Downsize Workforce – Finance Commissioner *Declares Income, Expenditure For Two Months

News Feature
Bayelsa State government has assured civil servants in the state that it had no plan to downsize the workforce in view of the huge wage bill it is grappling with. Rather, it said it would seek alternative sources of revenue to shore up its finances. The Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Maxwell Ebibai, gave the assurance on Thursday at the transparency briefing for the months of January and February 2021 in Yenagoa, the state capital. Mr. Ebibai said the state government got N6.8 billion for February as net receipts from the Federation Account after first line deductions as against the huge wage bill and other recurrent expenditures of N7.358 billion. He noted that the cost of running government had become highly challenging as the state was contending with dwindling federal revenu...
Bayelsa Airport Ready, Says Gov Diri

Bayelsa Airport Ready, Says Gov Diri

News Feature, Travel
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the state-owned airport is ready for commercial flight operations. Governor Diri stated this when he made an unscheduled visit to the facility ahead of a final certification visitation by the country's aviation regulatory authorities on March 30. In a press release, his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as saying that the state government had provided the required facilities for the smooth take-off of operations at the airport. His words: “I have spent over one year on this project after taking over from my predecessor in office, Senator Seriake Dickson, who initiated it. What we are doing now is dotting the I's and crossing the T's. So far, I think every requirement is on ground. "I believe when the inspe...