Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson

By Nwanneka Ezemelue

In his bid to kindle their interest in partnering with the state on a number of investment opportunities, Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, is currently in the United Kingdom holding high-level talks with some of Britain’s most influential businessmen and investors. 

This was contained in a statement by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Markson-Iworiso after a meeting at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, London. Dickson told his audience that his administration has carried out a comprehensive review as well as taken concrete steps to put in place the required institutional framework to attract investors to the state.

Dickson, who assured a group of investors of enabling environment, told his audience that the issue of insecurity has been adequately dealt with.

He said: I make bold to say to you  that Bayelsa State today is one of the most peaceful and secured states in the whole of Nigeria. We have achieved this given the huge investment we have made in the area of security since we assumed office barely six months ago.

“Mind you, we are even doing more because of the seriousness we attach to the security of not only the lives of our investors, but also to their investments.

“That is why today in Bayelsa, all the multinational companies who abandoned the state at one time, are all back and they are on ground as we speak, working.”

The governor added that one of the reasons why he decided to embark on the trip was for him to have the opportunity to personally relate with the investors and to assure them that Bayelsa State is ready to welcome genuine investors and investments in an atmosphere so convivial.

He further stressed that aside from the personal guarantees and assurances that he was giving to them, the state was willing to go a step further to take out insurance policy on every foreign investor who have shown or expressed genuine commitment to invest in Bayelsa.

“Our concept of attracting investors, especially genuine direct foreign investment into our state includes a commitment to protect them and their investments by going a step further to take out an insurance policy on them and their investments.

“Similarly, we will take out insurance policy on every tourists who visit our state. Beyond rhetoric, we want every tourist to truly experience Bayelsa as a home away from home. We are determined to make Bayelsa a foremost tourism and investment haven”, he said.