Bayelsa State Announces Work-Free Day and Market Closures for Presidential Visit
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has officially declared today a work-free day and ordered the immediate closure of all markets across the state. This decisive action is in preparation for the highly anticipated one-day official visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Bayelsa.
Government Directive and Project Inaugurations
The announcement was made public by the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, who emphasized the state's readiness to host the President. According to Koku-Obiyai, President Tinubu is scheduled to inaugurate four significant legacy projects during his visit. These projects include a state-owned gas turbine located at Opolo-Elebele, a 60-kilometre dual carriageway stretching from Onopa to the LNG axis, and a 630-metre bridge that connects Angiama to Oporoma in the Southern Ijaw Local Council Area.
Koku-Obiyai stated, "As we all know, the state is ready and we are ready as a people to receive the father of the nation, our father and leader in the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who will be in the state on a one-day visit to inaugurate four legacy projects." She further explained that the work-free day, declared for Friday, April 10, 2026, is intended to enable workers and other residents to actively participate in the programs organized for the presidential visit.
Resident Compliance and Economic Implications
The Commissioner urged all residents, including traders, to comply with the directive and turn out in large numbers to welcome President Tinubu. In a related development, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, praised the visit as a clear demonstration of the administration's commitment to national development and inclusive growth aimed at improving citizens' lives.
Lokpobiri, through a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Nneamaka Okafor, commended Tinubu's leadership and the ongoing economic reforms under the Renewed Hope agenda. He noted that these reforms have significantly enhanced the financial capacity of states across Nigeria.
Additionally, the Bayelsa State government has expressed optimism that Tinubu's visit will usher in a new phase of economic growth and attract substantial investment to the region. Jonathan Obuebite, the special adviser to Governor Diri on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and a former lawmaker, highlighted that the projects slated for commissioning are not merely state achievements but hold national economic importance.
Obuebite emphasized that these infrastructure developments are poised to boost local economies and create opportunities for sustainable development in Bayelsa State and beyond.
