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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has allayed fears over the completion of the gas turbine project in Bayelsa State.
Several Bayelsans had been full of commendations for the Diri administration following the announcement that the state had procured a 60-megawatt gas turbine to provide uninterrupted electricity for residents of the state.
However, the excitement turned to apprehension when the December 2025 deadline for the gas turbine was missed by the state government.
Frustration kicked in when another deadline of February 14, being the sixth anniversary of the Diri administration, was missed.
The missed deadlines created doubt with people doubting the ability of the state government to fulfill its promise.
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But Diri, speaking to a cross-section of leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has assured that the gas turbine is a project that would become reality very soon.
According to him, the state government had experienced several hiccups with the importation of some accessories for the gas turbine.
He disclosed that by the end of March, the gas turbine would be turned on for Bayelsans after the commissioning by President Bola Tinubu.
“I want to assure you now that all the parts we need for the gas turbine are now with us in Yenagoa. Most of the delays happened because the gas turbine and the accessories had not all arrived in Nigeria. It wasn’t until the Federal Government gave the waiver that we brought them in. The Comptroller-General of Customs was very understanding. In fact, we are going to honour him because he has done well.
“For the accessories, some were delayed at Onne Port. These parts were produced; they got to Onne Port and we faced a delay. Anytime they face issues, Olice will alert me, and I will take it up from there with the higher authorities. When I called the Customs CG, I went to sleep because I thought everything was in order; he also thought everything was in order. But after three weeks, nothing happened. Olice called me again, and I called the Customs CG, who apologised. Immediately after my call, he set the ball rolling, and from what Olice told me, Custom officers who were not picking up his calls before called him to come. Finally, we have been able to bring them to Yenagoa.’’
He maintained that the administration is not deceiving Bayelsans about the gas turbine and urged the APC leaders to tell the people that the project is a reality.
