23/08/2026
AN OPEN APPEAL TO HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR DOUYE DIRI, EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF BAYELSA STATE, ON THE URGENT NEED FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND BRIDGE CONNECTION FOR IKOLO COMMUNITY IN ATISSA KINGDOM
Date: August 23, 2026
His Excellency,
Sen. Douye Diri,
Executive Governor of Bayelsa State,
Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Your Excellency,
AN ARDENT CRY FOR HEED AND ACCESS: THE ISOLATION OF IKOLO COMMUNITY IN ATISSA KINGDOM
I write to you as a concerned son of Ikolo Community in Atissa Kingdom, Yenagoa Local Government Area, with a heart heavy with the plight of my people, but anchored in the belief that your administration's Prosperity Agenda reaches every corner of our beloved state.
Ikolo holds the painful distinction of being the only community in Atissa Kingdom currently without overland road access. While our sister communities in Yenagoa LGA stay connected to the rhythm of state growth, Ikolo remains isolated trapped by geography and neglect.
The Agony of Inaccessibility.
Our situation shifts from difficult to dire with every rainfall. The earth track linking Famgbe through Ikolo becomes completely impassable during the rainy season due to severe flooding. When the waters rise, our link to the outside world disappears entirely.
To reach Yenagoa, the state capital which sits just across the water, our people are forced onto local wooden boats. Men, women, school children, and the elderly must navigate open waters regardless of weather conditions. Accessing basic necessities emergency healthcare, market goods, secondary education, and administrative services becomes a dangerous journey. Expectant mothers in distress and elderly citizens facing health emergencies are subjected to the risks of water transport, where minutes can mean the difference between life and death.
The Economic Vision. The Famgbe-Ikolo Road and Bridge Project.
Your Excellency, Ikolo is an agrarian and fishing community rich in economic potential. Our people are hardworking farmers and traders whose produce could feed local markets across Yenagoa. Yet, our hard work is swallowed by high transport costs and produce spoilage caused by the lack of direct transport links.
Constructing the Famgbe-Ikolo Road and building a connecting bridge to link Ikolo directly to the State Capital will immediately;
Unlock Local Enterprise. Allow local farmers to transport food items directly to capital markets without the heavy markup of multiple boat transfers.
Enhance Security and Safety. Eliminate the hazards of daily water travel for school children and daily commuters.
Integrate Atissa Kingdom. Fully integrate Ikolo into the urban expansion and developmental network of Yenagoa LGA.
Our Humble Appeal.
I know His Excellency as a leader committed to urban rural integration and infrastructure expansion across Bayelsa State. Likewise, I recognize the commitment of the NDDC under the transformative leadership of HRH Dr. Samuel Ogbuku to infrastructural interventions that transform oil producing communities.
I appeal to your joint leadership to intervene in this longstanding plight. The construction of the Famgbe-Ikolo road and a connecting bridge will transform our community from an isolated enclave into an active economic partner in Bayelsa State.
I pray that the cries of Ikolo find favor in your eyes, and that under your leadership, our long awaited connection to the rest of Bayelsa State becomes a reality.
Yours faithfully,
Comr. Ben Silas Ogbara
On behalf of the Indigenous People of Ikolo Community,
Atissa Kingdom, Yenagoa LGA, Bayelsa State.
