Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has said his administration spent about N50bn on the state’s international airport project and other facilities within the project site.
He said the projects were a deliberate policy of his government to boost infrastructural development in order to attract foreign investment to shore up the state’s revenue.
Dickson made this known during a dinner in honour of members of the state Council of Arts and Culture for emerging the overall winner at the just-concluded 29th National Festival of Arts and Culture in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, a Government House statement said on Saturday.
“We have already spent close to N50bn on our international airport and other facilities within the project site,” the governor said.
Dickson also charged the state Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs and the Council for Arts and Culture to develop a cultural calendar for the hosting of monthly cultural shows as well as an annual cultural carnival.
At the dinner held at the Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, the governor congratulated the council for their feat, noting that tourism, arts and culture would be major revenue earners for the state in the nearest future.
Urging the council to generate revenue and remit a certain percentage to the state government purse, Dickson said the government would provide a monthly subvention to enable the council to function optimally.
He said, “The government will continue to honour and reward those who go for gold in representing the state. You are champions of culture. Henceforth, you will participate in all annual festivals including that of Abuja.”
Dickson, who announced the elevation of Mrs. Payeboye Festus-Lukor from an acting capacity to the substantive Director of the Council for Arts and Culture, described workers in the council as champions of culture.
In his remarks, Secretary to State Government, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff, described the Council of Arts and Culture as a talented group of Bayelsans, who had projected the state’s culture to the world.
Also, Festus-Lukor thanked the governor for his financial and moral support which she said spurred them to win the top prize at the festival.
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