From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Government has called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to resume and complete the long abandoned Bridge Project in Akenfa Community, a suburb of the state capital city, Yenagoa

The Deputy Governor, Sen.

Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the call while presiding over an enlarged meeting with representatives of the NDDC, community leaders of Akenfa Community and relevant government officials at his office in Government House, Yenagoa, on Thursday.

The Deputy Governor has clarified that, although the state government decided to take over some neglected NDDC projects in the state, including the Polaku-Sabagreia Bridge, that of Akenfa was reverted back to the interventionist federal agency after a mutual discussion between the two parties.

Describing the Akenfa link-Bridge project as strategic and critical to pedestrians and vehicular movements in the oil-producing community, Senator Ewhrudjakpo informed that government officially communicated the re-handing over of the project to NDDC in a letter dated 10th March, 2025.

He empathized with the Akenfa community over the delay in the execution of the project, and urged the NDDC to expedite the process of completing it with a view to putting an end to commuting challenges facing the people.

His words: “The project has actually been sent back to the NDDC to handle. But the NDDC seems to be far away from the Akenfa Community. So they find it easier to come to us.

“We believe that the project has gone a long way. What is required to complete it may not be as much as what has gone in there.

“So, we felt that we should hàve this tripartite interaction to let the community know officially that the project is now in the hands of NDDC, and also to let the agency know that our community is agitated considering the long history of that project.”

Responding on behalf of the NDDC, the Bayelsa representative, Senator Deinyabofa Dimaro, said the Commission would review the entire project and have it captured in its 2026 budget for seamless execution.

Senator Dimaro, who promised to properly relate the issue to the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, however, requested relevant documents from the State Government regarding the reversion of the project back to the NDDC.

Representatives of Akenfa Community who spoke at the meeting included, former Chief of Staff Government House, Yenagoa, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha, and a one-time paramount ruler of the community, Chief Isiya Albert.

Meanwhile, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has on behalf of the Governor constituted a tripartite contact committee involving the government, the NDDC and the Akenfa community to ensure the resumption and completion of the stalled Akenfa Bridge project.

Members of the committee include the state NDDC representative, Senator Deinyabofa Dimaro; the Commissioner for Special Duties (Central), Mandy Akpallo; and Chief Dikivie Ikiogha.

Others are the Technical Adviser to the Governor on NDDC Matters, Kuro Nyenye; Chief Isiya Albert; Secretary to the Akenfa Community, Wilson Mumeya, the Youth President, Moses Izibekiebo, as well as an engineer to be nominated by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Kogi State Government has expressed sadness over a tragic accident involving a bus conveying some of participants who were returning from the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities held at the Government House, Lokoja, on Wednesday.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the State government noted that the unfortunate accident, which occurred along the Lokoja–Okene road, claimed six lives.

According to Fanwo, 13 others sustained varying degrees of injuries, adding that they are currently receiving medical attention at different health facilities across the state.

“This tragedy has brought profound sorrow to the Government and people of Kogi State. We mourn deeply with the families of the deceased and extend our heartfelt condolences to them during this painful and devastating moment. The loss of any Kogite is a loss to us all, and we stand in solidarity with the affected families and communities. This is indeed a dark day in our history.

“His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, has directed that the State Government take full responsibility for the medical care of all injured persons until they fully recover. Government officials have been deployed to the various hospitals to ensure that the victims receive the best possible treatment and to provide support to their families.

“Our hearts are with the families who lost their loved ones, as we consider this a state tragedy of devastating magnitude.”

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

Pastor in charge of Trinity House, a non-denominational, Christian fellowship centre and founder, African Leadership Group (ALG), Ituah Ighodalo, has declared that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, perfectly fits into the kind of a leader that Nigeria direly needs to take it out of its current socioeconomic, political and structural doldrums.

He noted that what Adebayo may not have is the wide bandwidth of interrelationship and connection but he surely has the capacity, the knowledge and the determination to lead the country.

He, however, noted that with a strong political party base, he would make up for that deficiency and pull through.

“Adebayo is 53 years old, he is young. He has the energy, the strength and the knowledge. What he probably may not have is the wide bandwidth of interrelationships and connections.

“But that is what a party system does for you. If, for example, he was in a party that was a broad-based party, a strong party, they will make up for his lack of bandwidth and they will pull the party together and promote him as a good candidate.

“Adebayo speaks very well. He’s very knowledgeable, although I have not tested his capacity to implement things, but in terms of knowledge, enthusiasm and roadmap, he’s spoken very well,” he said.

He stressed that Nigeria was still in search of a leader that would turn things around and take the country out of the current mess.

He said: “I still think that in Nigeria, we’re still looking for that man who has the capacity, wherewithal, compassion, determination, energy and who has the genuine and sincere love for Nigeria; that young person that really wants to turn Nigeria around.

“Younger person with energy, you know; maybe you need maturity also because you can’t be too young. I think a person between the ages of 45 and 65 should be able to do this job. I think there is a need for some maturity.

“Candidate below 40 might be a bit too inexperienced and not have the network and the broad base to handle a complex place like Nigeria. But, if we have a person of 40, 45 years and above and is surrounded by a very good party system or good social system, a good team of advisors who have seen different aspects of Nigeria, such a candidate should be able to run the country and Adebayo fits into that category.”

On what is required to effectively govern Nigeria, he said such a leader must understand the history, the background and the formation of Nigeria, as well as the different tribes and persons, their complexities, interests and religions.

“The person must be a very accommodating person; very honest, corruption-free, and hard-working. The person must also be a visionary, who sees a great future for Nigeria. He must be bold and have the capacity for international relationships and interconnections and he must be determined to see Nigeria walk.

“The person must not be a greedy, selfish, self-oriented person, which is the unfortunate lot of a lot of our leaders today. They’re more interested in themselves and what they want to do for themselves and not in the collective good of the average Nigerians,” he stated.

He also said that Nigeria is not lacking such characters, saying, “It’s just that we may not know them. We may not know them because they’ve not been loud people. They’ve not made noise all over the place. They’ve not been exposed to public attention and all that, but they do exist. There are very many competent people in Nigeria. And if you go all over the world, a lot of Nigerians are doing extremely well.

“They are available, which is part of what we are trying to do at the African Leadership Group (ALG); to find these people and bring them out, talk to them, find out where they are and what they are doing.

“Even if they are not president, they can be support material because to run Nigeria, you need quite a good team. You need a good team of different kinds of people.”