As Bayelsans continue to lament and wait endlessly for the Gas Turbine to come on board, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, has called on residents to exercise more patience, as she assured that the Gas Turbine will come up in a few weeks.
Speaking on Monday in Yenagoa during a Transparency Briefing for January, February and March, 2026, Obiyai pleaded that Bayelsans should please calm down and give the Prosperity Government some time to enable her to complete some technical things to make sure that there won’t be any problem later.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu was in the state on the 10th of April 2026, to commission the Gas Turbine and some roads, but as at the time of filing in this report, the Gas Turbine was yet to come alive.
She disclosed that the current administration had done a lot of projects during her period, adding that no project will be abandoned.
The commissioner said, “I must also update you on the gas turbine plant. The government understands the eagerness of the public to have the 60-megawatt gas plant to light their homes and power their businesses. One assurance that this administration would like to give is that it will happen sooner.
“Work is progressing steadily, and the turbine will soon roll into full operation. Once all safety features are fully installed, the government will not compromise safety or speed. Patience is our key.
” It’s a fact that work is still ongoing, and the person in charge, Engineer Olis, has also made some statements. The government also made some statements. I am also making a statement as a spokesperson of the government, asking Bayelsans to remain patient.
“There are a lot of technical issues there, especially as it borders on safety. A lot of money was invested into that project and any little mistake will not be good, because if we are looking at it that light must come now, now, according to what we all believe, it means that if there is any problem, it will cost the state more money and that’s why I pleaded that Bayelsans should calm down and continue to observe what we are doing.
“Once the light is on, everybody will start enjoying this light, and that is the situation. So I’m still saying, Bayelsans, please be patient.
“We have been patient until today. In just a few weeks, we will have light. I’m pleading with you, help us as journalists to send a message around. The light will come, and we’ll all enjoy it.
She disclosed that the Transparency Briefing has been a forum that reflects the administration’s unshakeable commitment to open governance, accountability, and the people’s right to know.
She maintained that the Transparency Briefing underscores the prudent management of resources by Governor Douye Diri, whom she said has a firm conviction that public office is for service and for the pursuance of public well-being.
“There is no better practical way to demonstrate the effective management of the state’s resources than the ongoing harvest of legacy projects across the state.
” He is committed to completing all ongoing projects before the end of the term. No project would be left abandoned by God’s grace. That is the Prosperity Administration’s promise to Bayelsans.
” To our citizens, I urge you to remain law-abiding, trust the authority and take ownership of the projects in your community. Development thrives where there is peace and trust.”
Giving the low down for the state’s account record for the months of January, February and March, 2026, Timinipre Seipulo, technical adviser to the Governor of on Treasury and Finance, read out that the state closed the month of March with N58. 6 Billion naira.
Also, Tokoni Ifidi, the accountant general of Bayelsa State, explained that the state has cleared a commercial bank loan collected ten years ago during the time of Seriake Dickson.
She said:” Sometime in 2016, when we had the crunch, and we couldn’t pay salary, you can remember when we were collecting half salary. Part of the measures that the federal government had was to relieve states of their obligations. So ours were accumulated, and then we normally chose between 20 to 10 years.
“So as a state, we decided at that point to take the 10-year option because the interest was reduced. If you take 20 years, the interest will be very difficult. Though the repayments will be small, the total amount we will pay in the end will be a lot.
“And we calculated that in 10 years time, probably things might have improved, and maybe the state would be okay with that, and so we selected that. So from that calculation, then till now, you can see that it’s about 10 years. So that obligation, we have fully repaid it.”
