Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has said the state is positioning itself for major industrial growth, driven by the imminent completion of its 60-megawatt (MW) independent power plant.
Speaking at the 41st Annual General Meeting and Exhibition of the Bayelsa/Rivers branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Yenagoa, Diri stated that Bayelsa is “poised to become a hub for industrial growth” once the power facility comes onstream.
The installation of a state-procured 60MW gas turbine is expected to be completed by December, a development the administration believes will enable it to deliver 24-hour electricity across the state.
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Diri noted that fostering a conducive environment for manufacturing and boosting the local economy remain central to his administration’s ASSURED Prosperity agenda.
He added that a stable power supply, supported by large-scale infrastructure investments, would unlock new opportunities in the blue economy, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors.
He cited key ongoing infrastructure projects—such as the Sagbama–Ekeremor–Agge road, the Nembe–Brass road, and the Yenagoa–Oporoma–Ukubie road, which includes a 630-metre bridge across the River Nun—as initiatives already “opening new corridors for trade, commerce and tourism.”
Reassuring investors of a secure business environment, Diri highlighted the state’s significant investments in security, including the deployment of CCTV cameras monitored from a central control centre.
He added that Bayelsa’s reputation as a safe and attractive investment destination continues to strengthen through “strategic partnerships” with international firms such as the Dubai-based Jampur Group and the China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation, as well as leading Nigerian companies including the Dangote Group and Innoson Motors.
Diri further stressed that MAN’s “Made in Nigeria” and “Nigeria First” policy direction aligns seamlessly with the state government’s long-term vision for prosperity.
The governor’s commitment to improving power supply was applauded by Ifeanyi Okoye, who delivered the keynote address.
Okoye described power as “critical to manufacturing” and commended the administration’s investment in the independent power project, urging the governor to stay the course.
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He also praised the government for establishing technical and vocational colleges across the state’s local government areas.
In his remarks, MAN President Francis Meshioye urged governors in the Niger Delta to prioritise support for manufacturing as a means of driving economic growth and sustaining regional stability.
