By David Owei, Yenagoa.

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called on African leaders to make concerted efforts aimed at building regional unity and integration among countries on the continent.

Governor Diri made the call during a courtesy visit by a delegation led by the Minister of State for Education of the Central African Republic, Mr. Auretien Simplice Zingas, in Government House, Yenagoa, on Monday.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Bayelsa Chief Executive stressed the need for African leaders to remove all existing barriers to free movement of people, goods and services to achieve sustainable development.

Governor Diri maintained that closer ties among African countries would enable them to harness their resources to make the continent a better place in terms of economic development and the overall well-being of its people.

According to him, Africa’s inability to bridge the divisive gaps created by the scrambling and partitioning of the continent by some foreign imperial forces has placed it at a disadvantaged position for the developed countries to expropriate its natural resources for their own development.

He said for the continent to move forward, its leaders must stop paying lip service to the issue of proper economic integration, noting that about 70 percent of the natural resources used in developing other parts of the world are sourced from Africa.

His words, “I believe that the Scrambling and Partitioning of Africa created imaginary walls that divided us, both in terms of development and sociocultural integration. I strongly believe that those walls should be broken down at this age and time.

“The Western countries, especially Europe, don’t have borders. So why will Africa continue to have borders? We believe that if we pull down the walls, there will be more integration for Africa and businesses will flourish.

“I can assure you that over 70 percent of natural resources used for industry and development wherever in the world are from Africa. So we believe that by the time we achieve integration, and work together, we will get a developed Africa.”

Governor Diri, who expressed delight at the minister’s visit to study the workings of Bayelsa PRIME, pointed out that education was the topmost priority of his administration, adding that more resources would be deployed to the sector to achieve greater success.

He underscored the preparedness of Bayelsa to partner the Central African Republic in key areas, and called on individuals and business organizations from Africa and elsewhere to make portfolio investments in Bayelsa to achieve mutual benefits.

According to him:”Bayelsa is on a positive and good horizon. And that is why we are happy that people from outside are coming to learn from what we are doing here. We have just started and we are going to improve on it to make sure that Bayelsa becomes the Mecca of education and sports in Nigeria.

“We are not going to rest on our oars as a result of this success or victory we have achieved. I can assure you that the government would deploy more arsenal or resources to make sure that we make more improvement. We are happy that you are coming to learn from us. We believe that we are also going to learn from you.”

In his remarks, the Minister of State-Education, Central African Republic, Mr. Auretien Simplice Zingas, said the ministerial delegation was in the state to understudy the Bayelsa PRIME Project in view of the remarkable success made in the educational sector of the state.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mr. Zingas, appreciated the warm reception accorded him and his team by the state government, adding that they had already signed an agreement with New Global Education to replicate the Bayelsa Prime model in the education system of the Central African Republic.

By David Owei, Baylesa

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has again appealed to the Federal Government to make good its promise of supporting the state in developing the Agge Deep Seaport.

Gov Douye Diri of Baylesa state

Governor Diri, made the appeal at the flag-off of the Marine Safety Sensitization and Distribution of Life Jackets for Inland Water Travels at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, at the weekend.

Represented at the ceremony by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the governor described the Agge Seaport project as a gateway to regional and international trade that would be of immense benefit to the state and the country at large.

Governor Diri, who assured the federal government of his administration’s commitment to actualising the project, called for effective collaboration from all critical stakeholders including development partners.

His words:” We are happy that you have spoken profusely about the Agge Deep Seaport. But we will be happier if all of us work together in pursuing this endeavour to its completion and use.

“We need complementation and not competition; collaboration and not confrontation because we believe that it is in collaborating and complementing each other that we can achieve the Agge Deep Seaport project

“The Agge Deep Seaport is not only important to Bayelsa. It will not only open the gateway to Bayelsa, but also open the gateway to the Nigerian economy in several ways.”

He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for selecting Bayelsa as one of the inaugural states for the marine safety initiative.

The Bayelsa Governor urged the people of the state, particularly boat drivers and their passengers to be more safety conscious by always making use of the life jackets, describing safety as a collective endeavour.

According to him, “I call upon all stakeholders-traditional institutions, transport unions, community leaders and security agencies to collaborate with us. Safety is a collective endeavour, and development is a shared pursuit.

“A life jacket is not a hindrance, but a lifesaver. It’s your protection, your safeguard. Wear it, encourage others to do the same, and let us cultivate a culture where safety is valued as a strength, not stigmatized as a weakness.”

In his remarks, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, acknowledged the Diri-led prosperity administration’s alignment with the federal government’s vision on marine economy.

Chief Oyetola pledged the federal government’s commitment towards the actualisation of the Agge Deep Seaport project to engender job creation, economic development and attract local and foreign investments to the Niger Delta region and beyond.

He said: Your Excellency, Governor Douye Diri, I wish to commend your unwavering support for this initiative and your administration’s alignment with the broader Marine and Blue Economy vision of the Federal Government. Your commitment to the actualization of the Agge Deep Seaport is both timely and visionary.

“Let me briefly underscore what the Agge Deep Seaport means — not just for Bayelsa, but for Nigeria as a whole. This port will serve as a major maritime gateway in the South-South, facilitating international trade, reducing congestion at existing ports, creating jobs, boosting local and foreign investment, and accelerating economic development in the Niger Delta and beyond.”

In a goodwill message, the Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council and Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo, called on the federal government to establish marine safety corps to make the nation’s waterways safer and more secure.

Highpoint of the ceremony which had in attendance, the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, and several government officials, including the Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Faith Zibs-Godwin, was the flagg off and distribution of safety materials.

The Senate Committee on Capital Market on Wednesday  summoned Lafarge Africa Plc over planned divestment of 83.8% majority shares it controls in the cement industry .

Even  as the Bureau of Public Enterprises ( BPE ) , assured the Red chamber that the 16.19% share held by the Nigerian public in Lafarge , is intact .

The Committee had before summoning Lafarge Africa in line with resolution of the Senate on March 27, 2025, had interactive session with management of Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC), Bureau of Public Enterprises ( BPE) and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission ( FCCPC) on alleged planned sale of Lafarge Africa Plc to Chinese Investors .

In his submission before the committee, the Director General of SEC , Emmanuel Agama represented by Director , Securities and Investment Services , Abdulkafir Abbas , said SEC has not received any formal filling regarding the proposed divestment of majority shareholding in Lafarge Africa Plc .

He however explained that SEC was notified of an internal restructuring involving Holcim Group the majority shareholder in Lafarge Africa Pic .

” Holcim Group holds 83.81% of Lafarge Africa Pic’s issued share capital through the following wholly owned entities:

“As part of the internal restructuring, the 27.77% equity stake held by Associated International Cement Limited was transferred to another Holcim-owned entity. Davis Peak Holdings Limited. There has been no change in the ultimate beneficial ownership of the shares as a result of this transaction.

“In light of the foregoing, the Commission wishes to clarify that no format filing has been made with respect to any proposed sale of Lafarge Africa Pic to Chinese investors”, he said .

Representative of the Bureau of Public Enterprises , Satura Aisha Bello, in her capacity as Director , Post Transaction, told the committee that the Share Lafarge Africa Plc wants to divest , belong to the company and not the 16.19% share hold by Nigerians .

She explained further that Lafarge quoted on stock exchange holds 83% of the total shares of the three federal government owned cement companies , sold to it in 2001 and 2002 and has not in any way tampered with the 16.19% share meant for Nigerians .

However, the Committee chaired by Senator Osita Izunaso ( APC Imo West), resolved to summon Lafarge Africa Plc on the planned majority shareholding divestment.

It also directed its clerk to write the Corporate Affairs Commission ( CAC) on what memo and Lafarge article say in terms of divesting share holding .