AN APPRAISAL OF THE DICKSON ADMINISTRATION’S INFRASTRUCTURAL DRIVE *BY DENNIS ALEMU Now three eventful years in the making, the Dickson Administration has meritoriously built for itself a towering reputation for the delivery of public infrastructure in Bayelsa State. The whole gamut of projects ranges from roads, bridges, public buildings to modern educational facilities. In fact, the infrastructural cartography and dynamics of the state have been tremendously transformed under the present administration’s rigorous Restoration Agenda. This is now common knowledge as the echoes of the Restoration Agenda continue to reverberate far beyond the shores of the state. Nonetheless, it is pertinent to note that much as the Dickson Administration has done creditably well in the delivery of capital projects across the length and breadth of the state, there are also now some growing misconceptions around the state about the policy thrust of government, which focuses more on capital projects than it does for recurrent expenditure. Some critics of the administration have faulted its policies, maintaining that in so far as the government has not done enough in the domain of “stomach infrastructure”, it has failed the people. An apparently huge disconnect seems to exist between what the Dickson Administration has achieved for the state in practical terms on the one hand, and this negative perception being held by some Bayelsans about the administration and the Restoration Agenda, on the other. It is often said that in politics and governance, perception is everything. If some ‘right-thinking’ individuals who live in Bayelsa State in the last three years are making public statements that the Dickson Administration has done little or nothing for the people of the state, despite the legion of projects that litter everywhere, it is either that such people are deliberately germinating the notion to feed their selfish political interests or perhaps, their minds have simply been colonized by enemies of development in the state. Whichever is the case, it is obvious that there is a real communication challenge before the government’s image-makers. Such challenge, under the rubric here, rightly borders on contextualizing the infrastructural accomplishments of the administration against the backdrop of destructive, unfair criticisms that it has not lived up to the expectations of Bayelsans. The appraisal must necessarily start with making a distinctive juxtaposition of the human empowerment strides (read “stomach infrastructure”) and the physical capital projects recorded so far. We take serious exception to the distorted and disturbing views being ventilated in some circles that the present administration in Bayelsa State has done nothing to better the lot of Bayelsans. It would be most unfair indeed to the present administration in Bayelsa State if such dangerously pernicious orthodoxy is allowed to gain currency in a volatile political terrain like Bayelsa’s. One worrisome tendency that has become quite pronounced among some Bayelsans is that any government that does not offer them an appointment or any juicy contract is a failed government, as far as they are concerned and they see it as a duty to discredit that government by all means. We admit, though, that no government run by humans under the sun is a paragon of perfection including Bayelsa’s, the Dickson Administration has contributed more to the development of Bayelsa State than any other has done in the state. This is not a mere vaulting statement; the records are there for all who care to find out. Seeing the roads, bridges, buildings and school projects everywhere, we shudder at the thought that people can be so pedestrian and unappreciative to the extent that they can say Governor Dickson and his team has done nothing for Bayelsa State! This is the height of human ingratitude to dedicated leadership and it is a strong disincentive to good governance and true patriotism in leadership. It is an ill wind Bayelsans must discourage by all possible means before it develops into a ‘vital organ’ of their politics. We must point out to those who see nothing good in the Dickson Administration that the administration holds the record of having the highest number of political appointees in the history of Bayelsa State, right from creation till date. This goes to underscore the very fact that the Dickson Administration has also built the much-needed “stomach infrastructure” for which some critics have lambasted it. It is on record that the Dickson Administration appointed no fewer than 45 Special Advisers, over 70 Senior Special Assistants, and over 250 youths in the Bayelsa State Youth Development Committee. This is in addition to the constitution of the statutory administrative committees in the 32 rural development authorities and raising their monthly emoluments by almost 100 percent. The administration also expanded the administrative architecture of the bureaucracy by creating more ministries, agencies and parastatals, as well as floated a safety net for the elderly who are up to 70 years of age. Of course, no sensitive and responsible government can afford to overlook building “stomach infrastructure” in a state like Bayelsa. This is why Governor Seriake Dickson decided to expand the manpower base of his government and engaged indigenous contractors for most of the hundreds of completed and on-going projects in the state. Government’s resolve to do this is informed by the need to empower Bayelsans through such contracts, so that the economic benefits can percolate down to the grassroots and stimulate real growth in the supply value-chain in the local economy. This laudable objective has largely been achieved, long before the onset of the current fiscal crunch. Bearing in mind that Bayelsa State is in a hurry to develop, the Dickson Administration initiated numerous capital projects running into hundreds, to place the state on the rapid lane of development. It has been quite faithful keeping its promise to make infrastructural development the centre-piece of its policies and programmes, as is deducible from the rich harvest of projects in the state. Besides, the government’s unwavering commitment to complete all on-going projects it met on assumption of office is well acknowledged within and outside the state. Looking at the strategic infrastructural projects credited to the Governor Henry Seriake Dickson-led PDP administration in Bayelsa State, we are happy to report that the administration has so far given an excellent account of itself. It will meet, therefore, to roll out some of these key projects that define this political dispensation in the state. ROAD PROJECTS 1. Construction of Hon. Justice Tabai Road, Edepie Yenagoa 2. Dualization of AIT- Sani Abacha road by Bayelsa Palm Yenagoa 3. Expansion of Eradiri road Yenagoa 4. Construction of Col. Inokoba Road off Azikoro Yenagoa 5. Construction of Internal Roads in Toru-Orua, Sagbama 6. Construction of 32 kilometers Tombia Etegwe Road with 8 Bridges 7. Construction of 350meters Access road to Nembe police station 8. Construction of 2kilometers Yenagoa -Oporoama Road 9. Construction of Bridge to link Tourist Island Yenagoa 10. Dualization of Igbogene Junction to Glory Drive Igbogene Round about Yenagoa 11. Construction of Ikolo Creek Bridge and Access road Yenagoa 12. Construction of Opolo Elebele Road Yenagoa 13. Construction of Isaac Boro road Yenagoa 14. Construction of Road Safety-Diete Spiff- Hospital Road Ovom Yenagoa. 15. Construction of 3.6 kilometres access road Boro Town Kaiama, 16. Construction of NYSC Orientation Camp access road Kaiama 17. Construction of Azikoro Road Yenagoa 18. Construction of Jonathan road, Kpansia-Yenagoa 19. Construction of Road 24, High Profile Layout, Yenagoa 20. Construction of road 31 (high profile layout) Yenagoa. 21. Construction of road 28 (high profile layout) Yenagoa. 22. Construction of road 27c Spur (high profile layout) Yenagoa. 23. Construction of 1.98 kilometers Road 30 Spur (high profile layout) Yenagoa. 24. Construction of 1.98 kilometers Road 38/27 new kpansia market road(high profile layout) Yenagoa. 25. Construction of market road phase 1. Nembe. 26. Rehabilitation of the failed sections of Tombia-Amassoma Road, with 2 double culverts 27. Construction of road, parking area, cell blocks and sand filling of Okaka Prisons. 28. Construction of Govt. House car park 29. Construction of Access road to plot 079 Azikoro GRA Phase1 Yenagoa 30. Construction of additional 3 kilometers roadwork Toru- Orua Agalabiri 31. Construction of Okah-Oba Road 32. Dualization of Capt Amangala Road 33. Dualization of Marine Police Road 34. Dualization of Igbogene-AITsection Outer Ring Road, Yenagoa 35. Construction of flyover at NNPC Roundabout, Yenagoa 36. Construction of km25 from Toru-Orua to Ekeremor Road 37. Const. of Bayelsa State Airport Road 38. Completion of the Ogobiri-Toru-Ebeni Bridge Project 39. Construction of Phase 1 Bayelsa West Senatorial Road 40. Construction of Phase 1 Bayelsa East Senatorial Road 41. Construction of Phase 1 Bayelsa Central Senatorial Road PUBLIC BUILDINGS 1. New traditional rulers council secretariat complex 2. Multi-door court house 3. Bayelsa State Integrated Security Communication, Control and Coordination Centre 4. Modern Police officers Mess 5. Bayelsa State archives 6. Ijaw Language Centre 7. Governor’s Office complex 8. Deputy Governor’s office complex 9. Remodeling of Government House Clinic ( 10. Remodeling of the Gloryland Cultural Centre 11. Bayelsa State Ecumenical Centre 12. Four (4) New Secretariat Annexes 13. New Deputy Governor’s Residence 14. The Pharmaceutical Storage and Distribution Centre 15. The State Museum Complex 16. Government House Security Buildings 17. The Modern Diagnostic Centre 18. The Isaac Boro Town 19. Governor’s Lodges in Yenagoa, Sagbama, Nembe, Yenagoa, Abuja 20. Deputy Governor’s Lodge Abuja 21. Referral hospitals in Kaiama, Oporoma, Ogbia, Ekeremor and Sagbama 22. Modern Police Detention Cell for Nigerian Police 23. Renovation of Auditor General’s Office 24. Thirty (30) Duplexes at New Commissioners’ Quarters 25. Medical doctor’s quarters, FMC 26. Twenty-seven (17) low-cost housing units, Aleibiri 27. Eighteen (18) low-cost housing units, Ekeremor 28. Twenty-two (22) low-cost housing units, Toru-Orua 29. Ten (10) Duplexes at Okaka Housing Estate (Phase II) 30. NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp (site) 31. Construction of Army Officers’ block 32. Transparency Plazas 33. Bayelsa State Quality Control Laboratory 34. Renovation of presidential super lodges, government house. 35. Specialist Hospital, Toru-Orua. 36. Residential quarters for heath workers (500 Bed Hospital) 37. Construction of maisonette and meeting halls, Amassoma 38. Construction of police station, Toru-Orua 39. Bayelsa State School of Language 40. State Security Service quarters 41. Renovation of Presidential Super Lodges, Government House. ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS ESTABLISHED 1. Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education 2. Bayelsa State School of Language 3. School of Tourism Catering and Hospitality Management 4. Teachers’ training Institute 5. Bayelsa State College of Arts and Science 6. Bayelsa State Driving School 7. Sports Academy 8. Bayelsa State Institute of Agriculture • The Bayelsa State Ministry of Education in collaboration with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has executed over 400 school projects across the state. The projects cover construction of model schools with boarding facilities, confectioneries, hostels, libraries, ICT halls, laboratories, etc; building of head-teachers’ quarters and massive renovation of school buildings. These are indeed concrete performance indicators nobody can deny in Bayelsa State. In the light of the various infrastructural projects highlighted here, there is good reason to assert then that the Restoration Agenda of the Dickson Administration is very much on course. As we pointed out earlier, no government run by men under the sun is a paragon of perfection. However, with the benefit of hindsight from our political experience, right from the days of Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha to the era of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, it is absolutely untenable to assert that the present government has failed Bayelsans. Anybody who says that without acknowledging the positive changes and development the government has pioneered ought not to be taken seriously by well-meaning Bayelsans. The social element of criticism is good for society only when it is constructive, built on truth and not conceived in bad faith. What is needed from all stakeholders in the Bayelsa Project is objective analysis and constructive criticism that can generate beneficial ideas which can in turn, form the nucleus of alternative policy options for government to adopt after careful scrutiny and cost-benefit analysis. Funding of the major on-going infrastructural projects may be a critical issue at the moment in the light of the prevailing cash crunch that has hit the economy. Nevertheless, the Dickson Administration has shown enough commitment and zeal to transform the state and deserves the support, goodwill and prayers of Bayelsans of all persuasions more than ever before. *Mr. Dennis is a member of the Bayelsa State Public Information Management Committee(January 14, 2015)
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 00:48:38 +0000
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