ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has called on the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NNRA) to move beyond oil and gas and explore other areas like space.
He said such would contribute to the development of the country as the world’s economy is moving away from oil and gas.
Diri made the call on Monday when the NNRA Director-General, Dr. Yau Idris, accompanied by members of the Bayelsa State House of Representatives Caucus, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.
The NNRA members were in the Bayelsa to intimate the governor of the agency’s plan to site its South-South zonal headquarters in the state.
Diri said sitting the agency’s office in the state was a welcome development that would benefit the people.
Diri also appreciated the Minister of State, Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, for approving the zonal headquarters for the state.
He appreciated members of the National Assembly from Bayelsa for setting their political differences aside to work for the development of the state.
He said that what should be paramount in their stewardship should be bequeathing a better society to the next generation.
Diri stated: “Your agency is welcome to our state. Bayelsa is peaceful and looking for investors and partnerships with all well-meaning corporate and private bodies.
“We request more agencies, ministries, departments and parastatals to have their offices here.
“I appreciate the Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources and the Bayelsa State House of Representatives Caucus, especially the deputy chairman, Petroleum Upstream Committee, Hon Preye Oseke, who has been in touch with government and made this possible.
“As we are in the saddle of governance, the only choice we have is to work in unity and leave development for our children. Let us not leave a Bayelsa of hatred, war and illiteracy, sickness and disease to our children. Let’s make Bayelsa and Nigeria a state and country our children will be proud of.”
Speaking earlier, the NNRA Director-General, Dr. Yau Idris, noted that the agency is a regulatory body in charge of issues relating to radiation.Â
According to him, the NNRA, an agency under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, has 80 per cent of its activities related to oil and gas.
He said the agency is also responsible for regulating radiation activities in the health, mining, agriculture and manufacturing sectors among others.
Idris stated that the increase in the agency’s activities and the need to expand informed the decision to approach the Minister of State Petroleum, who approved the siting of the office in Yenagoa.