By Samuel OYADONGHA, Yenagoa
The Federal Government has taken over the Umaru Musa International Cargo Airport under construction in Zarama in the outskirts of Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital.
Saturday Vanguard check revealed that work on the project site which is located off the Bayelsa stretch of the East-West road is currently stalled due to lack of fund with the place taken over by flood and weeds.

The state Commissioner for Information, Strategy and Orientation, Mr. Nathan Egba who spoke to newsmen at the end of the state weekly executive council meeting said President Goodluck Jonathan, gave the approval for the take-over after the visit of elders and stakeholders from the state to the Presidency.

Egba said the governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, who disclosed the news to the council, stated that the Federal Ministry of Aviation would now be directly in charge of the development of the airport initiated by the state government.

While expressing the appreciation of the governor and the entire people of the state to the President for this gesture, Egba also announced the plans by the Federal Government to commence the immediate construction of the Federal Secretariat in Yenagoa.

He noted that the construction of the Federal Secretariat was long over due, saying Governor Timipre Sylva, would personally communicate the appreciation of the state government for the approval of the two key projects to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Also, the state executive council is to set up a central asset management body to manage and monitor the growth of all the companies belonging to the state government.

Egba said the decision was based on a memo from the Commissioner for Finance and Budget on the need to harmonise all the investments under one company.

“The issue of harmonizing all companies belonging to the state government under a central body that will at least monitor and be able to maximize for the state government the investments that have been made because most of these companies have been operating without contributing to the revenue profile of the government. And this has been allowed to go on for a long time,” Egba stated.