Bayelsa Government New Media

ENVIRONMENTAL GENOCIDE: IWG Expresses Concern Over Increasing Oil Pollution-Related Health Hazards In Bayelsa

A non-governmental organization, the International Working Group on Petroleum Pollution and Just Transition in the Niger Delta, has described as highly traumatizing the impact of oil pollution on the environment and health of the people of Bayelsa State.

The NGO, which is currently carrying out a sensitisation campaign on health hazards associated with oil pollution in the state, disclosed this on Thursday, during a courtesy visit to Governor Douye Diri, in Government House, Yenagoa.

Speaking through its team lead, Professor Engobo Emeseh, the group expressed concern that average life expectancy in Bayelsa has reduced significantly as the "people are forced to live on contaminated land, air and water."

Professor Engobo, who is of the Law Faculty of Aberyswhyth University, UK, clarified that the IWG was focusing advocacy on the health of the people in line with the recommendations of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission Report, which was submitted in 2023.

She disclosed that laboratory analysis of blood samples taken from indigenes from across the eight LGAs in Bayelsa indicated very high levels of hydrocarbon pollution and carcinogenic metals, causing a sharp increase in mortality and morbid rates in the state.

Professor Engobo, who commended the Bayelsa State Government for being the first subnational government in Nigeria to set up a high-powered Commission on oil and environment, said the IWG would continue to partner the state and other relevant organizations to mitigate the negative impact of oil pollution on the health of the people.

Her words: "Most of us here were constituted as members of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission. We gave our report in 2023; first presented at the House of Lords, and also presented to the Bayelsa State Government here in Creek Haven in October 2024, and then presented to the wider public in Abuja.

" In all of this, the Bayelsa State Government had given us the space and the support to provide our expertise and advice on how to deal with the challenge of the scourge of oil pollution in our state.

"When we presented our report based on the evidence that we gathered, having gone to all the LGAs in Bayelsa State, and spoken to indigenes and key stakeholders in Bayelsa.

"My colleagues and I, who were members of the expert working group, were quite traumatized at what we found in Bayelsa State, (I think that is the right word), and we called our report an environmental genocide.

"Based on that, we committed that even though our commission was de- commissioned in November 2024, that we were going to carry on with this work."

In his response, Governor Douye Diri, represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, described the report of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission as one of the most important documents to guide concerted actions in the mitigation of environmental hazards from oil pollution in the state.

Governor Diri thanked members of the International Working Group for partnering the State Government by making their expertise available to ongoing efforts towards mitigating the impact of oil pollution on the health of Bayelsans.

While calling on the Federal Government and international organizations to treat the issue of oil pollution in Bayelsa as a special case, he assured the IWG of his administration's support towards environmental remediation and improved healthcare delivery in the state.

His words: "Your visit is very significant. It is to buttress and consolidate the partnership that began with the Bayelsa Oil and Environment Commission. We are happy that the relationship is matured to this kind of sustained international platform of advocacy.

"We recall the presentation His Excellency, the Governor made in New York. We travelled from Bayelsa to New York because of the importance we attached to the Commission and all your activities.

"The Commission's report remains one of our important documents, especially concerning environmental condition of our state and the wider Niger Delta. For us, it is not a closed chapter, it is a living document whose recommendations must continue to guide concrete actions.

"We can't thank you enough for what you are doing already. We welcome your planned health research, interactions and engagements in the state. And we assure you that we are totally in support and we equally expect to see positive results from your work."

Members of six-man IWG delegation include Dr. Kathryn Nwajiaku-Dahou, representing ODI Global UK; Prof. Michael Watts of University of California; and Dr. Isaac Osuoka of York University, Canada.

Others are Prof. Anna Zalik, also from the York University, Canada, and Dr. Cautlin Strong of the ODI Global, United Kingdom.

Signed:

Doubara Atasi
Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor
Bayelsa State
Thursday 28th May, 2026

Gov Diri Felicitates Muslims On Eid-el-Kabir

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has extended warm greetings to the Muslim Ummah in the state and across Nigeria on the celebration of the festival of Eid al-Adha (Eid-el-Kabir).

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, on Wednesday, the Bayelsa governor noted that the festival commemorates the sacrifice of Prophet Mohammed, which is a virtue required of every true believer.

Senator Diri urged adherents of Islam, in keeping with the tenets of their faith, to continue to pray for the peace, security and wellbeing of Bayelsa and the country at sacred moments as this.

He also admonished Muslims to look beyond the festival to consistently imbibe the virtues of patriotism, selflessness, patience and sacrifice.

Governor Diri charged them to be inspired by these moral fibres to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood as they live harmoniously with other residents and adherents of other faiths.

He noted that the country was undergoing a crucial socio-economic phase that required prayers, resilience and patience to navigate through, and expressed the hope that with a collective resolve, Nigeria will achieve its desired greatness.

“On behalf of the government of Bayelsa State, I wish our Muslim brothers Eid Mubarak!”

Barka da Sallah!

44th State Security Council Meeting: Gov. Diri thanks Bayelsans for their support
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‎...urges communities to keep existing peace
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‎Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri has thanked Bayelsans for their support in maintaining peace in the State.
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‎Governor Diri made the statement at the 44th state security council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
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‎While thanking security commanders for working with government and the people of the state, the governor stated that what happened in Ogboinbiri Community and the actions taken by government, should be a warning to other communities.
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‎"I like to as always, appreciate the people of Bayelsa State for their peaceful nature, and also working with the government to ensure that our state is safe and secure.
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‎We had all the primaries of the All Progressives Congress, and it went peacefully across the 105 wards in the state.
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‎We urge our communities to be law abiding and peaceful. What has happened in Ogboinbiri and the actions government has taken should be a warning to other communities. As a government, we will continue work with our communities to maintain the peace we are enjoying," Governor Diri stated.
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Governor Diri inaugurates 6-man INC Reconciliation Committee

..mandates the committee to reconcile disputing individuals, interests within the INC

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has inaugurated a six-man Ijaw National Congress (INC) Reconciliation Committee.

Governor Diri, while inaugurating the committee at Government House, Yenagoa, mandated them to reconcile disputing individuals and interests within the INC and restore the ethos of the founding fathers.

The Governor charged the committee to come up with recommendations that will be free, fair, and all-embracing in order to strengthen the cords that bind the Ijaw nation together rather than divide it.

His words: “The strength of the Ijaw Nation is not in the loudness of our disputes, but in our unity.”

The six-member committee comprises: from the Eastern Zone, Dr. Goddy Damnabo and former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Alabo Gabriel Tobi; from the Western Zone, former Minister of Police Affairs, Brodrick Bozimo, and former President of the INC, Chief J.B. Fumudor; and from the Central Zone, former Director-General of the DSS, Matthew Seiyefa, and former Nigerian Ambassador, Boladei Igali.

To manage the secretariat are former Administrator of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, and former Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs, Erasmus Patrick.

In an acceptance speech, the chairman of the committee, Mr. Mathew Seiyefa, thanked Governor Diri for finding them worthy to carry out the assignment and promised to deliver on the mandate.

Dignitaries at the event included the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimbofa Ayawei, Acting Chief of Staff, Irorodamie Komonibo, Commissioner for Ijaw Affairs, Chief Godspower Oporomo, Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mrs. Ebiowou Koku-Obiyai and other top government functionaries.

Tinubu Polls 277,192 Votes In APC Presidential Primaries in Bayelsa
*A Restructured Nigeria Possible, Says Gov Diri

President Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, polled 277,192 votes in the direct primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the 105 wards in the eight local government areas of the state.

Governor Douye Diri, who served as the state’s Coordinator/Collation Officer for the presidential primary, declared the results at the collation centre at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Yenagoa.

His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted Governor Diri as saying that the peaceful conduct of the exercise across the state, from the presidential to the National Assembly and the House of Assembly primaries, showed a shift from the party’s “toxic” primaries previously in the state.

He stressed that no single individual could win an election without collective support, urging members to close ranks ahead of the 2027 general election.

His words: "As our party chairman already informed us, the party at the national level graciously asked me to be the returning officer and the chief collation officer.

“You have conducted yourselves so well. The exercise has been peaceful, calm, and in some areas more of a festive mood.

“To all those who contested and lost, you still have to be party men. I’m seeing a lot of them here, and that shows they are sportsmen. They belong to APC and they are going nowhere,” he said.

The Bayelsa helmsman stated that with the party’s unity and the strength of incumbency at both the state and federal levels, APC was well-positioned to dominate the elections.

“If all of these people here will go back to our wards, can’t we deliver? Can anybody beat us in Bayelsa State? It is a very big capital No.

“We have the human beings that know the strategies of elections. With our numerical strength and incumbency, it is game over in Bayelsa State,” he said.

Giving a breakdown of the results presented by the returning officers in each of the local government areas, he said Tinubu scored 39,454 in Brass, Ekeremor 45,949,
Kolokuma/Opokuma 22,593, and
Nembe 32,487.

The president also got 24,896 in Ogbia, Sagbama 46,283
Southern Ijaw 34,692 and
Yenagoa 30,834.

His only challenger, Mr. Stanley Osifo, got only five votes from Yenagoa local government area.

Earlier, speaking to party faithful and supporters after the exercise in his Sampou/Kalama Ward 6 in Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area, the governor said the APC remained the only party offering hope to Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

He said while there were two contestants in the presidential primary, the president was the overwhelmingly preferred choice among party members due to his leadership record and national visibility.

Diri acknowledged the reforms undertaken by the current administration were painful but maintained that they were necessary as the country would ultimately be repositioned for long-term prosperity.

He also expressed confidence that the restructuring of Nigeria was possible under Tinubu, describing him as one of the few leaders with the experience, democratic credentials, and political will to transform the country.

According to him, restructuring remains critical to addressing the nation’s recurring ethnic, religious, and political challenges.

Citing Tinubu’s role in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle and his involvement in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) during the military era, he said the president was one of the best-qualified leaders to champion the restructuring agenda.

Collation of the results was observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner in Bayelsa, Isah Ehimeakhe, the commission's Administrative Secretary, Mrs. Eme Akpa, ‎as well as the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Daniel Iyamah and service commanders

In attendance were the Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, Senator Konbowei Benson (Bayelsa Central), House of Representatives members, Oforji Oboku (Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma federal constituency) and Rodney Ambaiowei (Southern Ijaw federal constituency) as well as the State APC Chairman, Hon. Warman Ogoriba

Also present were the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, his counterpart in Niger Delta Basin Development Authority, Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, among other party stalwarts, stakeholders and members.

Daniel Alabrah
Chief Press Secretary
May 23, 2026

Bayelsa APC primaries: The success, the magic wand, the oneness!

By Kola Oredipe

History has been made in Bayelsa State's political space with the huge success recorded in the ongoing process to select candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general election.

The power of the people was at play with the good guidance of the leader of the party and the Governor of the State, Senator Douye Diri.

While the process looked seamless and generally peaceful, so much work, energy, sacrifice, extensive consultations, and compromises have gone into the successful APC primaries in the State.

Governor Diri, has demonstrated courage in guiding every phase of the primaries including interfacing with the party leadership and key stakeholders.

Making decisions is a daily scenario for any leader, and Senator Diri has deployed tact and wisdom, extracting compromises from many of the aspirants even when it was not convenient. He has shown genuineness, fairness, and great understanding throughout the process so far.

A good decision is based on knowledge and experience and that is what you get from Senator Diri, who himself has participated in several primaries and contested different elections.

The popular saying that, “in any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing”, is after all applicable here because the Governor is expected to get it right and that was exactly what he did across the constituencies.

From the directive to the stakeholders and leaders at every constituency to screen every aspirant to ascertain their eligibility and electability including vetting their credentials, Governor Diri, simply opened up the primaries to all interested party members. He directed various screening committees to recommend the top three aspirants to him and this reduced the tension across the constituencies.

Interestingly, leading with a human face, he protected and guided many aspirants against unnecessary spending and purchase of nomination forms when the aspiration appears unrealistic.

Quietly and without any noise, Diri, has recorded 100 percent success guiding the primaries through with constant consultation with other key party leaders across the state on the choices of the candidates.

Apart from the directive that all first-time lawmakers be returned for another term, the bulk of the candidates are products of serious engagements, political considerations and compromise. He approved the recommendations of many leaders and stakeholders on choices of candidates in their constituencies. The consultation was wide and Senator Diri, clearly avoided imposition of candidates on the people. Where existing zoning arrangements became an issue, and some aspirants failed to agree to the consensus put forward, Governor Diri, directed a transparent election across the wards, returning the powers to the people to make their choice.

From the House of Representatives primaries to the Senatorial primaries and the State House of Assembly primaries, Governor Diri, has guided a process that has become a model for party primaries.

The Bayelsa APC Primaries have remained largely peaceful throwing up great and acceptable candidates in different constituencies. Yet, Senator Diri, will not allow anyone to ascribe the success to him alone. That is leadership.

Working closely with his Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, another grassroots politician and other key party leaders, everyone played a role in the collective good of the process. As a listening leader, he appreciates the power of team work. For him, this is a product of collective success, political maturity and huge compromise by many stakeholders. That is politics; a game of give and take, where individual interests are subsumed for the overall interest of members.

Indeed, Governor Diri, has again demonstrated he is a strategic planner, calculative politician and merits-driven man in the various choices of the Bayelsa APC candidates.

As party members gather tomorrow, Saturday, to participate in the Presidential primaries to hand the ticket of continuity to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Diri, is upbeat about a massive turnout and participation across the 105 wards.

The exercise would be an endorsement of a great friend of Bayelsa State to fly the flag of APC. President Tinubu, has shown that support to Bayelsa State and the election on Saturday will be a reciprocal support.

Bayelsa APC has over the months remained strong and has become the party of choice at every level. By keeping every one together and with his amiable personality, Governor Diri, has kept the party in pole position to win every available seat in the 2027 general election in the State. This positive trajectory is a reality!

Bayelsa Govt to revive annual state sports festival

… as Premium Trust Bank releases cheques to Prosperity cup winners

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has called on corporate organizations and well-meaning individuals to support the annual Bayelsa State Sports Festival introduced a few years back.

The Governor, represented by Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Pereotubo Akpe, made the appeal shortly after the weekly Prosperity Walk and formal presentation of cheques to Prosperity Cup winners, by the Premium Trust Bank at the Main Bowl of Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.

He stated that for the growth of different sporting activities in the state, a deliberate programme for talent hunts and development must be revived and sustained to catch them young from the grassroots, just the current Sports Commissioner, Hon. Dr. Daniel Baraladei Igali, OLY, was discovered many years ago in wrestling.

He decried the poaching of talents from other states for national competitions and stressed the need for deliberate development of homegrown athletes in Bayelsa.

The Governor commended organizers of the Prosperity Cup for reawakening grassroots sports development in the state through football.

He disclosed that talks have resumed with the Sports Commissioner, with plans underway to organize local government and state sports festivals to scout talent from the grassroots.

“This is the time for the state to take a deliberate, intentional approach that will foster credible sports development across every corner of Bayelsa,” he said.

Th thanked participants for turning out en masse for the exercise, noting that the weekly walk promotes healthier and wealthier lifestyles.

He stressed that government investment should inspire more inclusive sports development, adding that sports should not be left solely to government.

“Government should ordinarily be tasked with creating an enabling environment for sports to thrive,” he said.

He urged corporate organizations, industries, and individuals to emulate Premium Trust Bank and other Prosperity Cup sponsors, citing the dividends of such investment.

He commended Premium Trust Bank and invited the bank to partner with the state for the successful hosting of the State Sports Festival, last held three years ago in 2023.

He expressed confidence that funds for the festival can be raised through the expertise of Prosperity Cup organizers and private partners without direct government intervention.

The Governor also acknowledged the state’s para-athletes for their second-place finish at the last Para Games, assuring them of government recognition and rewards in due course.

Premium Trust Bank MD/CEO, Dr. Emmanuel Emefienim, CON, represented by South-South Regional Manager, Mr. Danjuma Omeje, said Season 8 of the Prosperity Cup was special as it coincided with the bank’s fourth anniversary.

He noted a landmark achievement: the bank posted ₦177 billion Profit Before Tax, a first in Nigeria’s banking history. Omeje added that the bank takes pride in partnering with Bayelsa on sports development and will remain committed.

Prosperity Cup Director-General , Mr. Ono Akpe thanked Governor Diri and Bayelsans for their overwhelming support.

He announced that Coach Augustine Eguavoen and his technical team have selected five Prosperity Cup talents to join the Flying Eagles squad for national camping in Abuja from Sunday, 24 May 2026.

Four players will join the U-20 team and one the U-23 team ahead of final screening for both age-grade national teams. He said the invited players will receive full support to make the final cut.

He also revealed that, for the first time, the Prosperity Cup champions and a tournament select team have secured a slot in the Nationwide League One, starting 24 June 2026.

Ono Akpe added that the NLO has formally requested to make Yenagoa an official center for the tournament, describing it as welcome news for sports and football development in Bayelsa State.

South-South Governors Forum (SSGF)

Message of Solidarity with APC First Term Governors

The South-South Governors Forum (SSGF) expresses solidarity with all first term governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) participating in the scheduled governorship primaries of the party on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

The SSGF in a statement by its chairman and Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, said as first term governors, they have demonstrated visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to the progress of their states.

The forum is proud of the achievements of our brother-governors as champions of grassroots development and economic growth of our country.

These governors have also been consistent in ensuring tangible transformation of their states in areas of infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social welfare among other sectors.

The forum believes that their second term in office would result in greater infrastructural and economic prosperity of their states and Nigeria as a whole.

On behalf of the SSGF, I extend best wishes for a peaceful and successful governorship primaries.

We are certain that democratic ideals will triumph and their exceptional service will be rightfully rewarded by the APC faithful.

SIGNED:
His Excellency Senator Douye Diri
Chairman, South-South Governors Forum and Governor, Bayelsa State