Governor of Bayelsa State Seriake Dickson yesterday expressed concern over the plight of his political adviser abducted by gunmen two weeks ago.

He promised that the government will undertake a critical review of security activities in the state, particularly on the waterways to check the incidence of kidnapping and other criminal acts.

Dickson, who gave the assurance in a monthly media chat in Yenagoa, expressed concern over the rate of cases of kidnapping, describing the situation as sad and unfortunate.

He called on the abductors of his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Mr. Fyneman Wilson, to release him without further delay, he assured that everything would be done to address the issue.

Dickson explained that in a bid to keep the waterways safe for commuters, his administration had procured patrol boats equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

He stressed that, the government would continue to place high premium on security of lives and property of the people.

“We are very concerned about Fyneman Wilson and we are assuring that we will deal with this issue. That is why we bought security boats to address the challenge of security on our waterways. I assure you that very soon, you will hear about the massive security review especially on the waterways. This time calls for vigilance.”

On community development, Dickson promised that in the next dispensation, his administration would pay more attention to the lives of rural dwellers, stressing that government would adopt a bottom up approach in developing the budget.

The governor who said he would take advantage of his political campaigns across the communities to assess the needs of the people.

He also pledged massive employment of teachers, doctors, pharmacists, agricultural experts and engineers.

“I intend to go round the communities. The campaign is not only for political purposes, but it will also enable me to see the situation of things in the next system. I want to assess their needs. In the next system, I will place emphasis on community issues that affect the lives of the people,” Dickson said

On the poor sanitary state of Yenagoa Dickson explained that, the evacuation of refuse has become a challenge in view of funding constraints, as every fund is being committed to the payment of workers’ salaries and emoluments.

The governor expressed displeasure over the indiscriminate dumping of refuse, especially, the market women.

He assured that, the Ministry of Environment as well as the contracting firm have resumed evacuation of refuse and expressed his administration’s preparedness to devising a sustainable mechanism that would keep Yenagoa clean.

On the issue of electricity in Ogbia area, Dickson explained that, a new turbine has been installed, pointing out that, the government paid over N400 million to Shell Petroleum Development Company to re-connect gas supply to the turbine.

•Photo shows Gov Dickson.

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