Bayelsa govt acquires five armoured vehicles, others

By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Transport, Marie Ebikake, Friday  listed the purchase of five amoured and five non-amoured vehicles as one of the projects undertaking by the Governor Seriake Dickson administration in the last one year.
Ebikake said the administration bought the ten vehicles “for top government functionaries” at the cost of N403million directly from an automobile firm in the United States of the America.
The commissioner disclosed this after a tour of projects under her ministry as part of activities to mark the first anniversary of the Seriake Dickson administration.
Ebikake also dosclosed that the sum of N97million was earmarked for a driving school under construction in the premises of the Ministry of Transport in Yenagoa.
The project, which began in July last year, she said would be completed next month.
She explained that following the official ban on commercial motorcycle operators in the state, the state government expended N508million for purchase of 200 taxi cabs.
According to her, over N120million was spent on tracking devices for the cabs while 34 buses gulped N406million.
Ebikake also announced the expenditure of N422million to recover vehicles at Onne Port purchased by the previous administration and payment of N118million as demurrage.
She further stated that 15 armoured security patrol boats were bought at the cost of N339million adding that they would be taken delivery in Port Harcourt by the end of this month after a test-run.
Plans she said had reached advanced stage to build three modern neighbourhood motor parks within the Yenagoa metropolis at the cost of N300million, adding that facilities such as car wash and restaurants would be included in the design of the motor parks.
She debunked insinuations in some quarters that the Ministries of Transport and Works and Infrastructure, were conduit pipes of the administration, noting that the Transport Ministry was moribund under the previous administration.
“Let me say with all emphasis that the present administration of Governor Seriake Dickson, is a transparent and accountable government. And no Ministry can be used to siphon money,” she said.
Culled: Vanguard