Bayelsa govt buys 2 aircraft to boost commercial flights

The Bayelsa State Government has acquired two aircraft to begin commercial flight operations at the state’s airport.

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri announced this during a courtesy visit by the Prime Minister of the State of Africa in Diaspora, Dr. Tin Louise-George, at the Government House in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Monday, October 6, 2025.

Diri said the aircraft, expected to arrive soon, would operate daily flights between Yenagoa, Lagos, and Abuja.

Diri said the move was part of efforts to make the airport fully functional and commercially viable.

The governor stated that a previous partnership with a private airline had collapsed, leaving the airport underutilised.

“Now we have taken the bull by the horn. The government has procured two aircraft that will operate daily flights to Lagos and Abuja,” he said.

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The governor also expressed readiness to collaborate with the State of Africa in Diaspora on airport expansion and the development of a smart city, noting that Bayelsa was already developing a new urban area called New Yenagoa City.

Welcoming Louise-George on his first visit to Nigeria, Diri described the State of Africa in Diaspora as an “African government without borders” and lauded its mission to foster development across the continent.

In his remarks, Louise-George commended the Bayelsa State Government’s development vision and proposed partnership in aviation, education, healthcare, and urban development.

He explained that the State of Africa in Diaspora, recognised by the African Union as Africa’s “sixth region,” represents over 350 million people of African descent worldwide.

Louise-George stated: “Our goal is to strengthen Africa through its diaspora and the diaspora through Africa.

“We are ready to support the expansion of your airport, development of a smart city, and other key projects that will benefit Bayelsa and its people.”

The Star