The Bayelsa State Government has dismissed claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Governor Douye Diri's administration has failed to tackle hunger and poverty, insisting that the government has implemented far-reaching programmes and projects that have improved the welfare of residents over the past six years.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, described the opposition's allegations as misleading, maintaining that the Diri administration had consistently invested in critical sectors, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and youth empowerment, to improve the living conditions of Bayelsans.
She said the administration had executed several landmark projects aimed at stimulating economic growth and enhancing connectivity across the state. According to her, these include the Nembe-Brass Road, the second phase of Glory Drive, the new state secretariat complex, as well as numerous road and bridge projects designed to open up communities and create economic opportunities.
The commissioner also highlighted the government's agricultural interventions, including the Bayelsa State Livestock Development Programme and support for cassava and rice farmers, noting that the initiatives were intended to boost food production, strengthen food security and reduce poverty.
Koku-Obiyai further stated that the state government had rolled out skills acquisition programmes, grants for small businesses, scholarship schemes and employment initiatives targeted at youths and women as part of efforts to expand economic opportunities and improve livelihoods.
She said the claim that the administration had done little to address poverty did not reflect the realities on the ground.
"The claim that nothing has been done to address poverty does not reflect the realities on ground. Governor Douye Diri's administration has deliberately pursued policies that place the welfare of Bayelsans at the centre of governance.
"We acknowledge that the current economic challenges are largely driven by national economic realities affecting every state of the federation. However, Bayelsa has continued to cushion the impact through strategic investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and social empowerment programmes," she said.
The commissioner maintained that while the prevailing economic challenges were not peculiar to Bayelsa, the state government remained committed to mitigating their effects through sustained investments and targeted social intervention programmes.
She assured residents that the Diri administration would continue to prioritise policies that promote inclusive development, improve food security and expand opportunities for economic growth across the state.
The government's response followed an earlier statement by the Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP, which urged Governor Diri to make the fight against hunger and poverty the administration's foremost priority in the second half of 2026.
The opposition, in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Ikaebimo Mark, argued that worsening economic hardship, rising living costs and declining purchasing power had left many residents struggling to meet their basic needs despite increased derivation revenue and federal allocations accruing to the state.
