Bayelsa State Government has confirmed the purchase of two aircraft to begin commercial flight operations from the Bayelsa International Airport in Yenagoa.
Governor Douye Diri disclosed this on Monday during a courtesy visit by Dr Tin Louise-George, Prime Minister of the State of Africa in Diaspora, to Government House, Yenagoa.
He said the aircraft would soon arrive and operate daily flights on the Yenagoa–Lagos and Yenagoa–Abuja routes.
According to him, his administration was determined to make the state-owned airport fully operational and commercially viable.
“We are working on the airport to ensure regular, daily flights. We had an arrangement with a private airline, but it almost collapsed, and the airport became virtually non-functional. Now we have taken the bull by the horns. As we speak, we are expecting two aircraft which the government has already procured,” Diri said.
The governor said the initiative was part of a broader plan to boost the state’s economy, attract investment, and improve connectivity. He also expressed readiness to partner with the State of Africa in Diaspora on airport expansion and smart city development.
“As an African government without borders, we know you have a lot for us. My technical adviser had earlier presented the plans we have for developing our state. The airport is one of them, which certainly needs expansion,” he added.
Welcoming Dr Louise-George on his maiden visit to Nigeria and Bayelsa, the governor described the State of Africa in Diaspora as “akin to Doctors Without Borders,” noting that the partnership would strengthen international collaboration.
Africa in Diaspora to Support Bayelsa Projects
Earlier, Dr Tin Louise-George said his visit was to explore areas of collaboration in aviation, smart city development, education, and healthcare.
He proposed a cooperation agreement that would provide development support and funding for selected projects in the state.
Louise-George explained that in 2003, Heads of State of the African Union recognised the African Diaspora as the continent’s sixth region — with over 350 million people of African descent living outside Africa.
He said the State of Africa in Diaspora operates with a parliament and royal chamber to reinforce Africa through the diaspora and the diaspora through Africa.
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