Jonathan Decries Abandonment of Bayelsa Development Projects
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed disappointment over the abandonment of key infrastructure projects he initiated during his tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State, accusing successive administrations of failing to build on his vision for the state’s development.
Speaking during the commissioning of the Best Western Plus Hotel in Yenagoa, Jonathan reflected on his efforts to position Bayelsa as a tourism and investment destination, especially through the development of the hospitality sector. He revealed that his administration had started several hotel projects before he became Nigeria's Vice President in 2007, but regretted that most of those initiatives were either neglected or completely abandoned by those who came after him.
Jonathan described the abandonment of those projects as a glaring example of the waste and discontinuity that plague governance in Nigeria. According to him, the state has suffered significant setbacks because of a lack of continuity in government policies and projects.
“During my time as governor, we saw the need to create a welcoming atmosphere for investors and tourists in Bayelsa,” Jonathan said. “We deliberately invested in hotels and related infrastructure to support major events like the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), which Bayelsa was proud to host.”
He went on to mention that his government had awarded contracts for the construction of three major hotels in the state capital, including the iconic Tower Hotel and two additional three-star facilities. Unfortunately, he said, those projects were never completed after he left office.
Jonathan stressed that consistent neglect of such developmental projects not only wastes public funds but also undermines the long-term socio-economic growth of the state. He called on current and future leaders to prioritize continuity in governance and ensure that state resources are not squandered on initiatives that never reach completion.
He commended the developers of the Best Western Plus Hotel for their commitment to raising the standard of hospitality in Bayelsa and urged both public and private stakeholders to invest more in the state’s tourism sector.
“The commissioning of this hotel shows what is possible when projects are seen through to completion,” he noted. “It is my hope that this will signal a turning point in how we approach development in Bayelsa — with vision, commitment, and sustainability.”
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