By Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
In his bid to improve on the Agricultural development and job ceation for youths in the State, the Bayelsa State Government has allocated 595 hectares of land for the proposed Brass fertilizer company in Odioma Kingdom in Brass Local Government Area of the State.
This was as the government has also hinted that the bush clearing of the site of the said project has commenced in earnest.
The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Barr. Esau Andrew, disclosed this to Orient daily in Yenagoa, the State capital
He said that the Federal Government’s proposed project, when completed, was expected to create employment for not only qualified Bayelsans, but has the capacity to engage no fewer than 15,000 workforce, with professional and un-professional qualifications.
Andrew, who called for unity amongst the people of the host community, reiterated that the Governor Diri-led administration was willing to create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the State.
He averred that the government was also desirous of fast-tracking the development of all communities and sectors of the State’s economy through impactful projects and programmes.
“The Brass fertilizer company is situated on 595 hectares of land in Odioma kingdom of Brass council area. There are no problems with respect to the take-off and completion of this gigantic project, but what we currently have there are basically issues on intra-communal arguments as to who becomes the Chairman, Odioma Council of Chiefs”, he said.
He added, “As a community member and a commissioner in the State executive council, I can assure you that it can’t stall the project. Governor Diri has directed the community to toe the path of unity and peace so that they can benefit maximally from this enormous project, and the youths, chiefs and elders of the community are ready to do as directed by the governor”.
In the same vein, the government has reiterated its commitment to building additional housing estates in the State.
To this end, Andrew said that the Governor Diri administration in partnership with the Federal Government’s Ruhi 774 Housing Scheme and Shelter Afrique were set to build new 800 and 100 units of housing estates, respectively in the State.
According to him, while the Ruhi 774 Housing Scheme being handled by Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria (REDAN) is to build 100 housing units in each of the eight council areas of the State, Shelter Afrique on the other hand is expected to carry out the construction of another 100 housing units in Yenagoa.
He said further that the State government has also concluded plans to build additional 260 housing units in the yet-to-be-developed hectares of land acquired by the previous administration for the Ayama-Ijaw Housing Estate in the Southern Ijaw council area of the State.