The Bayelsa State Government has mobilised the Nigerian Navy, through the Naval Shipyard Limited in Port Harcourt, to begin the rehabilitation of its fleet of state-owned boats.
The Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Faith Izibenua Zibs-Godwin, announced the development on Thursday after a meeting with the Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Shipyard, Rear Admiral E. E. Ebe, at her office in Yenagoa.
According to Dr Zibs-Godwin, the collaboration marks a major step toward improving maritime safety, modernising the state’s transport infrastructure, and unlocking the economic potential of its waterways.
She believed that restoring the vessels would enhance connectivity, facilitate inter-state trade, and provide residents with safer, more reliable means of transport.
Rear Admiral Ebe assured that the Navy would carry out the rehabilitation to the highest standards, in line with modern maritime regulations.
He commended the state government’s focus on marine transportation, stating that the initiative would also support emergency response, stimulate tourism, and drive economic activities across Bayelsa.
Also, the scope of the rehabilitation project includes passenger boats, cruise vessels, tugboats, ferries, and ambulance boats, with a view to restoring them to full operational capacity for public service.
