Environmental and infrastructural development are two prominent issues that should dominate the minds of the people of Bayelsa State, southern Nigeria, as they head to the polls on 11 November, 2023.
Development Diaries reports that 1,056,862 registered voters are expected to exercise their civic rights in the governorship election in Bayelsa State.
Bayelsa State, though an oil-rich state, is lacking development in various areas, even as it was ranked as one of Nigeria’s poorest states in 2022.
In its 2022 multidimensional poverty index, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) ranked Bayelsa State as the second poorest state in the country after Sokoto State.
According to the Statistician General of the Federation, the indices used in coming up with the survey are health, education, living standards, and security shocks.
The state still struggles with a lack of development despite the abundance of resources found in the Niger Delta region. One of the most pressing issues is the lack of basic infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.
Many communities in Bayelsa lack access to clean drinking water, electricity, and proper road networks, making daily life a struggle for the local population.
A report by Daily Trust in 2021 revealed that the state’s water corporation is not functioning and residents of the state capital, Yenagoa, have no access to water supply.
The lack of infrastructure in the state limits economic opportunities and hampers the delivery of essential services, such as health care and education, which are crucial for human development.
Additionally, the state faces environmental challenges as it is situated in the Niger Delta, a region rich in oil reserves. The extraction of oil has led to environmental degradation, including oil spills and land pollution, which has had a devastating impact on the livelihoods of the people living in the area.
The pollution of water bodies and farmlands has disrupted fishing and agriculture, which are primary sources of income for many residents.
These developmental problems in Bayelsa State highlight the need for comprehensive strategies that address infrastructure deficits and environmental concerns to improve the quality of life for its citizens and foster sustainable development in the region.
This can only be achieved when leaders interested in the development of the state are voted into power.
Development Diaries calls on Bayelsans to come out en masse, exercise their civic duties, and vote for a governor whom they believe will turn around the misfortunes of the state for the betterment of citizens.
Photo source: Environews Nigeria
