President Bola Tinubu inaugurated a 60‑megawatt gas turbine power plant at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Friday. The ceremony also marked the launch of three additional projects under Governor Douye Diri's administration: the 630‑metre Angiama‑Oporoma Bridge, the Sagbama/Ekeremor Road, and a 2.9‑kilometre dual‑carriageway in Yenagoa.
Speaking at a stakeholder meeting in Bayelsa Government House, Tinubu praised Diri for delivering the independent power project and said, "We are all working hard. Independent power supply is a good thing. I assure Nigerians that they will have electricity to power their growth." He urged the governor to pursue more people‑oriented initiatives and pledged federal support for further state development.
Governor Diri thanked the president, describing him as a friend of the Bayelsa people. He remarked, "We are confident that you will recognise the depth of our appreciation for taking time from your busy schedule to inaugurate these landmark projects. Your administration's decisive policy interventions have paved the way for meaningful reforms in various sectors including power. This has enabled us to deliver on our pledge to establish reliable, independent energy through the construction of these gas‑powered turbines. For us as a state, this is not just an achievement, it is a cause for thanksgiving and rejoicing."
Former President Goodluck Jonathan was among the notable personalities who attended the event.
President Tinubu's decision to open a 60 MW gas turbine in Bayelsa signals a rare moment of federal‑state cooperation on power generation, a sector traditionally plagued by delays and under‑investment. By spotlighting the plant alongside road and bridge projects, the administration is positioning energy infrastructure as a cornerstone of its development agenda.
The inauguration arrives at a time when Bayelsa has struggled with unreliable electricity, hampering both households and small enterprises. Governor Diri's emphasis on "independent energy" aligns with the president's promise of "electricity to power their growth," suggesting that the turbine could serve as a pilot for replicating similar setups across the Niger Delta.
For ordinary Bayelsans, a stable power supply could translate into longer business operating hours, reduced reliance on costly generators, and improved school and clinic services. Rural communities along the newly upgraded Sagbama/Ekeremor Road stand to benefit from better market access once electricity becomes dependable.
This event fits a broader pattern of the Tinubu administration leveraging high‑visibility projects to cement political alliances in oil‑rich states, using infrastructure as both a development tool and a means to reinforce federal influence.
