Bayelsa, Poverty Amidst Wealth: Has Diri Been Fair To Bayelsa?

With oil and sundry revenue in excess of N200 billion annually for the past five years, our reporter examines the irony in Bayelsa

Bayelsa a chequered history, having pioneered and blazed the trail in oil exploration and has long been touted as a land of plenty.

Recent figures from Permanent Secretary, Bayelsa Ministry of Finance put the available funds at over N8¹ billion in the coffers of the state government.

With its abundant crude oil reserves and substantial revenue, the state should be a shining example of economic prosperity, sadly this is not true in spite of the current administration’s self styled tag as prosperity administration.

Figures obtained from government statutory sources indicate the Sen Douye Diri has superintendent over Bayelsa’s most prosperous times in terms of revenue accruing to the state.

However, a closer look reveals a stark contrast between its wealth and the persistent poverty that plagues its people.

The irony of Bayelsa’s situation, beats imagination as the administration has kept on the rhetorics of providing infrastructure as exemplified by the three senatorial roads on which the previous administration dance around for eight years.

Although there are ongoing road projects like the Gloryland drive, Yenagoa-Oporoma, Nembe-Brass roads amongst others, the performance compared to revenue accruals is at best mediocre.

Bayelsa, hosts approximately 15% of the country’s 159 onshore and offshore oil fields

Oil output date indicates that in 2019, the state produced roughly 290,000 barrels of oil per day.

This oil wealth has translated into substantial revenue for the state government, with Bayelsa receiving N188.02 billion from the 13% derivation fund in 2022.

However, the state’s oil wealth has not been judiciously deployed to provide basic amenities like pipe born water. It is alarming that a state with this hefty revenue doest not have portable water in the state capital let alone the rural settlements where the bulk of the oil derivation revenue comes from..

Despite its oil wealth, Bayelsa remains one of the poorest states in Nigeria with a recent report ranking Bayelsa as the second to the poorest in the federation.

The state government, recieves frequent cash payments multinational oil corporations,but the people who bear the pains of associated pollution from oil exploration and production do not benefit from the windfalls.

The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) recently paid a whooping sum of N35 billion as an out of court settlement for environmental infractions in the state and the government kept mute, neglecting the oil bearing communities.

The development is a further indicator that oil revenues are not being used to address the pressing needs of the people[1].

The majority of Bayelsa feel deprived of the benefits they should have received from the state’s oil wealth with oil communities grappling with frequent oil leaks from dilapidated pipelines and vandalism by oil thieves as well as pervasive gas flares.

Unemployment, poverty, environmental degradation, and violent conflicts continue to plague the state, with little improvement in the lives of the people.

The dearth of development in Bayelsa is evident in the poor infrastructure, limited access to basic services, and the high rates of poverty and inequality.

The state’s oil wealth has not translated into tangible improvements in the lives of its citizens, leaving many feeling disillusioned and frustrated and begging the question, of the sincerity of the current and past political leaders in the past decade.

One of the main challenges in addressing poverty in Bayelsa is the issue of corruption amongst political officer holders who divert social benefits meant for the poor.

For instance , a monthly grant of N200,000 for 210 small and medium businesses which ran for the first four years was left in the hands of Diri’s allies with no measurable growth as the beneficiaries, many of who are not in business saw the grant as a political patronage.

Another challenge is the dependence on the oil industry as the primary driver of the state’s economy, a develppment that resulted in the state’s frequent poor ranking on sustainability index by BudgIT and Economic Confidential.

The oil sector has made marginal contribution to Nigeria’s economic growth in recent years, and hence the clamour for diversification.

This near total dependence on oil has limited the state’s ability to diversify its economy and create sustainable sources of income for its people.

To address the issue of poverty in Bayelsa, the state government must ike other states create a body saddled with the responsibility of developing oil bearing settlements across the state and channel a reasonable chunk of the 13 percent derivation revenue to address the needs of the rural poor in Bayelsa.

Diri should also take concrete steps to tackle corruption and ensure that oil revenues are used for the benefit of the people.

The state government must also prioritise the development of infrastructure and basic services, such as healthcare, education, and mass housing beyond the current lip service to achieve tangible and measurable results.

Investing in these areas will not only improve the lives of the people but also create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

The Diri-led government must diversify its economic base to leverage on its comparative advantage in aquaculture, farming and reduce its dependence on the oil industry.

This can be achieved by investing in other sectors, such as agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing.

By creating a more diverse and resilient economy, Bayelsa can reduce its reliance on the single revenue source will not only improve the state’s sustainablity ranking but also ensure that the state’s wealth benefits majority of Bayelsa people.

The irony of Bayelsa’s situation is that its wealth has not translated into prosperity for its people.

Despite its abundant oil resources and substantial revenue from the petroleum industry, the state remains deep in poverty and underdevelopment.

Investing in infrastructure and social services, and diversifying the economy are crucial steps in addressing this paradox and ensuring that Bayelsa’s oil wealth benefits all its people.

Only then can the state truly live up to its potential and become a model of and truly become prosperity administration indeed

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