By: Association of Development Initiatives, August 10, 2025
The Association of Development Initiatives (ADI) has called on the deputy majority leader of Bayelsa state house of assembly and Chairman house committee on works, Rtd. Colonel Bernard Kenebai to stop politicising the development of people in Sagbama constituency one and two in Bayelsa state.
The call was made after an oversight visit on state government projects carried out by the Bayelsa state assembly house committee on works headed by Colonel Bernard Kenebai who at the instance of the honourable commissioner for works, Moses Teibowei and members of his committee, stated there was progress in the said Toru-orua road project connecting to Toru-Ebeni community in Sagbama local government area of the state.
President of the association, Mr. Benjamin Asakeme distanced self from the statement. He said the project is not anything near progress that a millipede movement is better compared to work done at site.
Mr. Asakeme highlighted that the said project was earlier approved by Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, former Governor of Bayelsa state in 2018, when massive sand filling was carried out between the Toru-orua and Bulou-Orua axis.
Senator Douye Diri upon inception as Governor of Bayelsa state, reactivated the road project in October 2022, giving hopes to residents of the area for the huge benefits and development attached to completion of the road.
The governor after months of contract approval to the HMG Nigeria Limited, kick-started the project in february 2023 with clearing of bushes and sand filling.
The Association of Development Initiatives while commending the Government for reactivating the road project, wishes to emphatically call on the government to facilitate the variation, mobilisation and full payment of money owed, for the contractors to accelerate the project.
The group calls on Colonel Bernard Kenebai, member representing Sagbama constituency 2 in the Bayelsa State house of assembly to stop playing politics, rather engage the governor to ensure complete payment of contract money to enable contractors to execute the project. The Association wishes to remind Bernard Kenebai that the project shall upon its execution, bring about inter-connection of communities in Sagbama constituency one and two up to Agge deep seaport port in Ekeremor and the state capital in Yenagoa.
The group also reiterated the fact that the Toru-orua, Bulou-Orua, Kabeama, Okumbiri, Amatolo and Toru-Ebeni road project is the only substantial project of the incumbent Senator Douye Diri led government to register its presence in the area, that Col. Kenebai should prioritize, instead of playing unnecessary political gimmicks.
This should serve as a wake-up call to Col. Kenebai, the committee chairman of works in the Bayelsa state house of assembly that the residents of the area are not finding comfort in his representation. He should as a matter of urgency reconcile with realities, to ensure proper information to the governor, urging the appropriate government authorities to give attention to the existing project which when executed shall encourage local businesses, easy access to transportation of people, goods and services within the area, improve revenues for rural communities, and enhance effective urban-rural connections for overall development of the state.
