By David Owei,Baye

‎Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali says the Ministry of Sports Development will give the interim board of Bayelsa United its full backing to ensure Bayelsa United returns to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL at the end of the 2026/27 league season.
‎
‎The commissioner gave the assurance at a meeting with members of the interim board headed by Dr. Peter Singabele at his office in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
‎
‎Dr Igali noted that the Ministry of Sports Development wo
uld give the interim board all the necessary support to enhance Bayelsa United’s return to the NPFL, pointing out that all hands must be on deck to see the team’s immediate return to the top flight of the Nigerian League.
‎
‎He expressed the hope that with the calibre of personalities on the board and the support from all stakeholders, Bayelsa United will have a successful season.

He stated that with the envisaged collaboration and teamwork between the Sports Ministry and the interim board, the club would achieve its set objectives.
‎
‎According to him, he is saddened by the relegation of the team, stressing that the team has learned from its mistakes, pointing out that he was impressed with the choice of the newly-appointed coaches for the team.
‎
‎He urged the technical crew led by Abdul Maikaba to do a thorough and quality recruitment for Bayelsa United, maintaining that one of the biggest problems of the team last season was poor recruitment expressing confidence in the coaches’ ability to deliver on their assignment.
‎
‎”I have every confidence that within a year, the team will return to the premier league because the government is committed to seeing the team back to the NPFL” Igali stated.

He also threw his weight behind the proposed preseason tournament adding that it will serve as a viable catchment ground for young and vibrant talents.
‎
‎Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the board, Dr. Peter Singabele assured the government and the people of Bayelsa State that the members of the board would deploy their wealth of experience and expertise to rebuild Bayelsa United and guide the club to greater heights.
‎
‎Dr. Singabele further solicited the support and cooperation of all stakeholders.He expressed confidence that with the commitment of thegovernment,management,supporters, and players, Bayelsa United would achieve its set objectives.

‎Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali says the Ministry of Sports Development will give the interim board of Bayelsa United its full backing to ensure Bayelsa United returns to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL at the end of the 2026/27 league season.
‎
‎The commissioner gave the assurance at a meeting with members of the interim board headed by Dr. Peter Singabele at his office in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
‎
‎Dr Igali noted that the Ministry of Sports Development would give the interim board all the necessary support to enhance Bayelsa United’s return to the NPFL, pointing out that all hands must be on deck to see the team’s immediate return to the top flight of the Nigerian League.
‎
‎He expressed the hope that with the calibre of personalities on the board and the support from all stakeholders, Bayelsa United will have a successful season.

He stated that with the envisaged collaboration and teamwork between the Sports Ministry and the interim board, the club would achieve its set objectives.
‎
‎According to him, he is saddened by the relegation of the team, stressing that the team has learned from its mistakes, pointing out that he was impressed with the choice of the newly-appointed coaches for the team.
‎
‎He urged the technical crew led by Abdul Maikaba to do a thorough and quality recruitment for Bayelsa United, maintaining that one of the biggest problems of the team last season was poor recruitment expressing confidence in the coaches’ ability to deliver on their assignment.
‎
‎”I have every confidence that within a year, the team will return to the premier league because the government is committed to seeing the team back to the NPFL” Igali stated.

He also threw his weight behind the proposed preseason tournament adding that it will serve as a viable catchment ground for young and vibrant talents.
‎
‎Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the board, Dr. Peter Singabele assured the government and the people of Bayelsa State that the members of the board would deploy their wealth of experience and expertise to rebuild Bayelsa United and guide the club to greater heights.
‎
‎Dr. Singabele further solicited the support and cooperation of all stakeholders.He expressed confidence that with the commitment of thegovernment,management,supporters, and players, Bayelsa United would achieve its set objectives.

By David Owei
‎
‎Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has charged the newly-appointed coaches of Bayelsa United to return the team to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL at the end of the 2026/2027 season.
‎
‎Governor Diri gave the charge at the official unveiling of the new Technical Adviser, Abdu Maikaba and Assistant Coach, Ngozi Elechi at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
‎
‎Governor Diri, who was represented by the deputy governor, Dr Peter Akpe, remarked that the mandate of the technical crew is to bring the team back to the top flight of Nigerian Football, pointing out that the government is desirous of seeing the team back in the NPFL, hence it is taking steps to ensure the realization of this objective.
‎
‎He explained that the coaches emerged from a rigorous process conducted by a team of seasoned technocrats, noting that the government did not interfere in the selection of the coaches.
‎
‎The governor restated his administration’s commitment towards ensuring that the “Prosperity Boys” compete in the NPFL in 2027.
‎
‎According to the state’s helmsman, Bayelsa United cannot afford to remain in the lower division for a long time, adding that his administration would give the team the needed support to gain promotion, urging all critical stakeholders in the State to support the team and the new board.
‎
‎He also urged multi-national oil companies and the organized private sector to give the team the necessary support, pointing out that the government alone cannot sponsor sports.
‎
‎”We have kick-started, and I believe that a journey that is properly started in the right direction is already halfway done. A lot of people had interest and made nominations, and several coaches were interviewed, but the process was based on merit. I have not met the new coach before, and that means from day one, we have started avoiding interference,” Governor Diri stated.
‎
‎”I want to appeal to all stakeholders to add their knowledge to support this team to succeed. Our target is to return the team to the Premier League, within this season and that’s our charge to the new technical crew.
‎
‎Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Bayelsa United Interim Board, Dr. Peter Singabele assured Bayelsans that the team would return to the apex league at the end of the season, maintaining that preparations for the NNL have begun.
‎
‎He hinted that the team would embark on a pre-season tournament that would feature twelve teams, including last year’s Prosperity Cup quarter-finalists as well as four other Yenagoa-based teams, stressing that the aim of the exercise was to discover and nurture local talents, which abound in the state.
‎
‎Also speaking, the new technical adviser of Bayelsa United, Abdu Maikaba, asserted that the decision to accept the club’s offer was driven by the board’s ambition to return the club back to the echelon of Nigerian football.
‎
‎He explained that he was responsible for securing the promotion of Wikki Tourist to the NPFL twice, in 2014/2015 and 2025, finishing fourth in 2015. He added that he has worked with many league teams, including helping Kano Pillars win the league in the 2014 season, among others.
‎Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has charged the newly-appointed coaches of Bayelsa United to return the team to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL at the end of the 2026/2027 season.
‎
‎Governor Diri gave the charge at the official unveiling of the new Technical Adviser, Abdu Maikaba and Assistant Coach, Ngozi Elechi at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
‎
‎Governor Diri, who was represented by the deputy governor, Dr Peter Akpe, remarked that the mandate of the technical crew is to bring the team back to the top flight of Nigerian Football, pointing out that the government is desirous of seeing the team back in the NPFL, hence it is taking steps to ensure the realization of this objective.
‎
‎He explained that the coaches emerged from a rigorous process conducted by a team of seasoned technocrats, noting that the government did not interfere in the selection of the coaches.
‎
‎The governor restated his administration’s commitment towards ensuring that the “Prosperity Boys” compete in the NPFL in 2027.
‎
‎According to the state’s helmsman, Bayelsa United cannot afford to remain in the lower division for a long time, adding that his administration would give the team the needed support to gain promotion, urging all critical stakeholders in the State to support the team and the new board.
‎
‎He also urged multi-national oil companies and the organized private sector to give the team the necessary support, pointing out that the government alone cannot sponsor sports.
‎
‎”We have kick-started, and I believe that a journey that is properly started in the right direction is already halfway done. A lot of people had interest and made nominations, and several coaches were interviewed, but the process was based on merit. I have not met the new coach before, and that means from day one, we have started avoiding interference,” Governor Diri stated.
‎
‎”I want to appeal to all stakeholders to add their knowledge to support this team to succeed. Our target is to return the team to the Premier League, within this season and that’s our charge to the new technical crew.
‎
‎Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Bayelsa United Interim Board, Dr. Peter Singabele assured Bayelsans that the team would return to the apex league at the end of the season, maintaining that preparations for the NNL have begun.
‎
‎He hinted that the team would embark on a pre-season tournament that would feature twelve teams, including last year’s Prosperity Cup quarter-finalists as well as four other Yenagoa-based teams, stressing that the aim of the exercise was to discover and nurture local talents, which abound in the state.
‎
‎Also speaking, the new technical adviser of Bayelsa United, Abdu Maikaba, asserted that the decision to accept the club’s offer was driven by the board’s ambition to return the club back to the echelon of Nigerian football.
‎
‎He explained that he was responsible for securing the promotion of Wikki Tourist to the NPFL twice, in 2014/2015 and 2025, finishing fourth in 2015. He added that he has worked with many league teams, including helping Kano Pillars win the league in the 2014 season, among others.

By David Owei

Former Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta/Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Kingsley Kuku, has hailed the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, for resolving the leadership crisis in the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and ensuring a peaceful election transition.

Kuku, a one-time IYC spokesman, said in a press release that the recent rancour-free conduct of the foremost Ijaw ethnic nationality youth organisation’s national election was a defining moment in its history and in the collective journey of the Ijaw nation.

He commended the Bayelsa governor for successfully facilitating the reconciliation process that resulted in differing interests within the organisation sheathing their swords and coming together during the July 11, 2026 election.

The statement reads in part: “I consider it a duty to express my profound appreciation to His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State and Governor-General of the Ijaw Nation, whose exemplary leadership, fatherly guidance and unwavering commitment to the unity of the Ijaw people created the enabling environment for this remark
“Your Excellency, your steadfast belief that the Ijaw nation must always place unity above personal interests was evident throughout the entire process. Through your peaceful disposition, conciliatory approach, inclusive leadership and unwavering support, you inspired confidence among stakeholders and helped foster the atmosphere of mutual trust that culminated in an election accepted by all.

“Today, there is no room for division, no factions and no disputation — only one united Ijaw Youth Council, stronger and better positioned to pursue the aspirations of the Ijaw people.

“I equally acknowledge and deeply appreciate your all-encompassing support, including the financial resources you graciously made available to ensure that the electoral process was successfully organised. Your generosity demonstrated not only your commitment to the institutional stability of the IYC but also your abiding faith in the capacity of Ijaw youth to provide purposeful leadership for our nation.”

The former presidential aide equally noted under Governor Diri’s watch, the IYC experienced one of its most peaceful, credible and widely accepted leadership transitions.

“This achievement reinforces your enduring reputation as a leader who builds bridges, promotes reconciliation and places the collective interest of the Ijaw nation above every other consideration,” he further stated.

Kuku congratulated all those that participated in the electoral process and urged the newly elected leadership and its members to preserve the “hard-earned unity, eschew divisive tendencies and work collectively to advance the noble ideals upon which the body was founded.

“The future of the Ijaw nation will be brighter when our youth remain united, visionary and committed to constructive engagement.”