Nigeria’s immediate past Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has praised Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, for delivering long-awaited infrastructure projects that had remained uncompleted for more than five decades.
He spoke yesterday at a grand reception in Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, one of the country’s key oil-producing regions.
Osinbajo said he was deeply impressed by the pace and scale of development under the current administration.
Osinbajo recalled visiting the area on 19 February 2022 for the groundbreaking of the Angiama–Oporoma bridge.
He admitted he was initially sceptical about whether the project could be completed, given the challenging terrain and dense forest environment.
However, he said he was pleased to have been proven wrong following the completion of the 630-metre bridge and its access road—an effort that had been stalled for over 60 years.
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“I was here for the groundbreaking. At the time, it was a dream because there was no access road to one of the most prolific oil-producing local government areas in the country,” Osinbajo said.
“I had my doubts, but here we are today witnessing history.”
A major highlight of the visit was the commissioning of the Oporoma Referral Hospital.
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Osinbajo expressed surprise that the project, first initiated in 1973, had remained abandoned for 53 years before being revived and completed by the Diri administration.
Life-saving facilities
He noted that the facility was now fully equipped and already carrying out life-saving surgical procedures, marking a significant milestone for healthcare delivery in the area.
Earlier in the day, Osinbajo also inaugurated the 6.72km Agbura–Oxbow Lake Road in Yenagoa Local Government Area.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Moses Teibowei, explained that the road provides a faster route to Swali and other parts of the state capital, easing traffic congestion and reducing travel time.
Osinbajo stressed the strategic importance of the project, noting that it improves access to key federal institutions, including the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Federal Secretariat.
Praising Diri, Osinbajo described him as a leader who has demonstrated uncommon integrity in keeping his promises.
“Douye Diri has proved that God did not make a wrong choice in him,” he said.
“It is not often that you find men and women able to keep their words in politics.”
In his response, Diri thanked Osinbajo for his continued support, describing him as a “true son of Bayelsa.”
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to a “no-excuses” approach to development, stressing that difficult terrain would not hinder progress.
“For us, there is nothing like difficult terrain. This is what God has given us, and it is our duty to tame it,” Diri said.
The governor also pledged to construct the road linking Oporoma to the hospital at Osokama, as well as to fence the newly commissioned facility to ensure its security and long-term sustainability.
