Bayelsa Pays N742 For Officials’ Armoured Vehicles, Boats
The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Transport, Marie Ebikake, says theSeriake Dickson-led administration has acquired 10 armoured vehicles for its key officials and 20 armoured vehicles and boats in its bid to counter the rising cases of sea piracy and crime in some parts of the state.
She said 15 armoured security patrol boats cost of N339million while the 10 vehicles “for top government functionaries cost N403million. They were bought from an automobile firm in the United States of America.
Ebikake made the disclosure after a tour of projects under her ministry as part of activities to mark the first anniversary of the Dickson administration.
The commissioner said N97million was earmarked for a driving school under construction in the premises of the Ministry of Transport, Yenagoa, adding that the project would be completed in February this year.
She further explained that following the official ban on commercial motorcycle operators in the state, the state government had expended N508million on 200 taxi cabs and over N120million on tracking devices for the cabs while 34 buses cost N406million.
Ebikake also announced the expenditure of N422million to recover vehicles at Onne Port bought 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. They would be taken delivery in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by the end of this month after a test-run.
She added that plans had reached advanced stage to build three neighbourhood motor parks within the Yenagoa metropolis at the cost of N300million, stressing that facilities such as car wash and restaurants would be included in the design of the motor parks.
While debunking insinuations in some quarters that the ministries of Works and Infrastructure and Transport were conduit pipes of the administration, Ebikake said her ministry was moribund under the previous government.
