Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called on the Federal Government to grant states the autonomy to create and manage their own local government areas, stressing that any state with the capacity to fund additional councils should be allowed to do so.
Governor Diri made the appeal on Wednesday during the grand finale of the Prosperity Government Thank You Tour held in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The governor decried the current arrangement which limits Bayelsa—despite its vast landmass and contribution to national revenue—to only eight local government areas, a situation he described as unfair and detrimental in the context of federal revenue allocation.
“It is an anathema for Bayelsa to have just eight local governments, while states with 40 councils enjoy more allocation from the same pool of national resources we contribute to,” Diri said. “Local governments are not federating units and should not be used as a parameter in determining revenue allocation.”
He advocated for the restructuring of Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw, the latter being Nigeria’s largest local government area by landmass, into multiple councils. Diri proposed the creation of new councils such as Yenagoa South, Yenagoa North, Ekpetiama, Gbarain, and Biseni/Okordia/Zarama.
“If we can manage 40 local governments with our resources, allow us to create them. This anomaly must be corrected,” he stated.
Diri also highlighted key infrastructure projects under his administration, including the ongoing construction of a city-wide ring road, a new transport terminal at Igbogene, and a nine-storey civil service secretariat. He further revealed that the state was building a FIFA-standard stadium and working to secure investors to complete the long-abandoned Tower Hotel.
On security, the governor acknowledged the recent spike in cult-related violence and the abduction of Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro but reaffirmed that Bayelsa remains one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.
“No state is immune to security breaches,” Diri said. “But we have invested heavily in safety, including the installation of CCTV cameras in Yenagoa. We urge residents to support the government by providing credible intelligence.”
He called for greater cooperation from traditional rulers, community leaders, and residents in sustaining peace and aiding ongoing security operations. “We are not spirits in government. We need your cooperation. Security is a collective responsibility,” he added.
In a goodwill message, Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Ebiuwou Koko-Obiyai, said the Thank You Tour was a gesture of gratitude for the people’s steadfast support.
Senator Konbowei Benson (Bayelsa Central) and Hon. Oforji Oboku (Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency) also commended Governor Diri’s strides in infrastructure, healthcare, and education, affirming that he had justified the people’s mandate through impactful governance.
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