The Bayelsa State Government has announced the acquisition of two aircraft to begin commercial flight operations from the Bayelsa International Airport.
The planes will operate daily flights between Yenagoa and two major cities — Abuja and Lagos — according to a statement released on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Daniel Alabrah.
The statement said Governor Douye Diri revealed the development on Monday during a courtesy visit by the Prime Minister of the State of Africa in Diaspora, Dr Tin Louise-George, to Government House in Yenagoa.
The governor said the move was part of efforts to make the Bayelsa International Airport fully operational and commercially viable.
“We are working on the airport to ensure there are regular daily flights,” the governor said. “We had an arrangement with a private airline for flights to Lagos and Abuja, but that almost collapsed and left the airport underused. Now, we have taken the bull by the horns and procured two aircraft to operate these routes.”
The governor also highlighted plans to expand the airport and develop a “smart city” in the state, named New Yenagoa City, to boost economic activities and infrastructure.
While welcoming Dr Louise-George, Diri described the State of Africa in Diaspora as a partner with great potential for collaboration, similar to humanitarian organisations like Doctors Without Borders.
Dr Louise-George expressed readiness to support Bayelsa’s development projects through funding and cooperation agreements. He explained that the African Union recognises the African diaspora as the continent’s “sixth region,” representing over 350 million people of African descent worldwide.
“Our objective is to reinforce Africa through the diaspora and the diaspora through Africa,” Louise-George said. “We are ready to provide resources to develop the airport, support a smart city, education and medical facilities.”
The state government had first announced plans to purchase aircraft for commercial use in August 2024, in partnership with United Nigeria Airlines and Ibom Air.