Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo

11/12/2025

Yesterday, On behalf of the State Government, I received the UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Yenagoa, where she led a high-level delegation to engage us.

We are pleased to note that the country Rep is abreast with our health programme in the state. According her observations during visits to selected health facilities combined with spontaneous conversations with mothers and caregivers affirming the encouraging reports UNICEF has consistently received regarding Bayelsa’s impressive progress in immunization.

Tagging Bayelsa a champion of healthcare delivery and a shining spot in Nigeria, is a major feat for us because we believe that the best way to respond to commendations is to double down on our efforts by doing more work.

For us as a government, heath is quite a priority for us that is why the government is already taking steps to review and strengthen the State Primary Healthcare Board Law, with the aim of sustaining the current funding model and expanding it through enhanced private-sector participation, especially from corporate entities operating within the state.

As you are all aware that as a government we know where we are going, and nothing is distracting us from the track nor path we ply for the health development of our people in Bayelsa State.

God bless Bayelsa state.

08/12/2025

Today, on behalf of Governor Douye Diri, I directed the immediate ban on all illegal mining activities in Bayelsa communities.

Reports of unauthorized “black sand” mining in Southern Ijaw, Brass, and Ekeremor are unacceptable and dangerous to our environment and people.

We have also invalidated all unauthorized MoUs signed by community leaders with illegal miners. Any leader who violates this order will face sanctions.

Bayelsa cannot allow insecurity or environmental damage in the name of profit.

All mining must follow due process and government approval-no exceptions.

God bless Bayelsa State.

08/12/2025

Last Saturday, alongside the Honourable Member, Hon. Fred Agbedi, representing the people of Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, I attended the burial ceremony of the late Pa Ligha. During the event, I emphasized that people should not be carried away by the takeaways they receive at such occasions. Instead, we should study the life of the man or woman we have come to celebrate, because every biography carries a clear message.

From Papa’s biography, I am pleased that our father made a meaningful impact during his lifetime. What we become in life only finds true meaning when we positively affect the lives of others. When we fail to impact others, we become as miserable as misery itself.

We are therefore comforted by the fact that our father, whom we have gathered to pay our last respects to, touched lives beyond his immediate family. We heard how he trained Honourable Christopher Enai and my Deputy Chief of Staff, Gowon Toruyouyei, both of whom are not his biological children. This speaks volumes about how Pa Ligha poured himself into his family and community.

May his soul continue to rest in peace.

28/11/2025

Praise Is Better!

27/11/2025

At the Service of Songs yesterday, we gathered to celebrate a mother, a blessing, and the nurturing pillar of the Youbogha family honouring a life well spent to the glory of God Almighty.

Our dear mother, Mrs. Ogulagha-Ere Egberiwarebo Finikeme (née Esime), continues to rest in the bosom of the Lord, having given her very best to her family before her transition from this earthly realm.

Today, we thank God for her life, her legacy, and the family she has left behind. May God continue to sustain, guide, and protect them all.

May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.

26/11/2025

Today, I joined my boss, the Executive Governor of our dear state, at the Bayelsa International Airport to receive the newly inaugurated aircraft designated for the Abuja–Bayelsa regional operations.

This maiden flight is yet another testament to our commitment to Bayelsans and to Nigerians at large. The assured prosperity agenda of the Governor Douye Diri–led administration remains firmly on course, as we continue to deliver on our promises to our people.

There is no better way to open Bayelsa to the world than this milestone. Enhancing our local economy, improving connectivity, and attracting investors to our state remain top priorities.

God bless Bayelsa State.

24/11/2025

23/11/2025

Yesterday in Calabar, I had the honour of witnessing the solemnisation of holy matrimony between my Chief Detail, Rawlings Orim Ayami, and Rosemary Omom Agbor at the St. Bernard Catholic Church, Calabar, Cross River State.

It is my prayer and sincere counsel that this newly wedded couple will live for each other, grow with each other, and firmly shut the door against unnecessary third-party interference. Marriage is a journey where both husband and wife must sometimes become “mumu” for one another choosing peace, patience, and understanding above all else.

To the husband, I encourage you to honour your wife, understand her, safeguard her, be her confidant and best friend, adore her, nurture her, and always defend her.

To the wife, I urge you to respect your husband, inspire him, follow his guidance, and stand by him even when the road becomes stormy.

I pray that Almighty God brightens their path, strengthens their union, and may the fountain of His blessings never depart from their new home.

In Christ we pray. Amen.

20/11/2025

On the joyful occasion of the 68th birthday of our father in whom we are well pleased, we celebrate a leader whose time at the helm remains a blessing to our nation.

We proudly reclaim and reaffirm the blessings you bestowed upon us as a people and as the most populous Black nation on earth. Our gratitude knows no bounds.

Happy birthday to a selfless leader we cherish today and always His Excellency, former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR. Continue to live full Sir. 🫡

20/11/2025

Yesterday, I attended the Service of Songs for His Royal Majesty, King Joshua Iyekorogha Igbagara, OON, the Ebenanaowei of Ebeni-Oyiakiri, who passed on at the ripe age of 89. It is our earnest prayer that all he has laboured for will be sustained and preserved for generations to come.

On behalf of the government and the good people of our dear state, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Igbagara family over the passing of our father and leader a man who was not only a bridge-builder but a symbol of truth and an ambassador of peace.

We recognize King Joshua Iyekorogha Igbagara not only as our monarch but as a guiding compass for unity, peace, and harmony in the Isoni community and the entire Sagbama Local Government Area.

His life and legacy are evident in the growth of the community and, most especially, in the lives of his family. We pray that God Almighty continues to uphold and strengthen the family, granting them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

May his soul rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord.

19/11/2025

Yesterday, I received the Assistant Comptroller General of Zone I, Bayelsa–Rivers Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service, at the Ship House, Creek Haven Government House, Yenagoa.

The Comptroller General of the Service was represented by ACG Njoku Kingsley Akujobi, who is in the state to familiarize himself with the operations and activities of the Bayelsa Correctional Service under Zone I.

Our engagement with the ACG was enriching and timely, as it provided an opportunity to reiterate our concerns and collective commitment to strengthening the operational capacity of the Nigeria Correctional Service across the country. We encouraged the Service to continue exploring innovative ways to enhance efficiency and improve service delivery in our correctional centres.

It was also an ideal moment to commend the Bayelsa State Command for its responsible and dedicated service. Under the leadership of the Comptroller of Corrections, Bayelsa State Command, Imo Ikahokhule, the Command has demonstrated professionalism and excellence, and we are truly pleased with their performance.

God bless Bayelsa State.

15/11/2025

Yesterday, I received the leadership of NESREA’s Bayelsa Field Office in Government House, Yenagoa, where we discussed the urgent need for stronger action on environmental remediation in our state.

For over six decades, Bayelsa has suffered the worst of crude oil exploration. In many communities, you can dip your hand into the river and bring it out stained with crude oil. Our people are exposed to contaminated water, polluted seafood, and a damaged ecosystem. This is why we have always maintained that Bayelsa is the unfortunate headquarters of environmental pollution in the Niger Delta.

We urged NESREA to go beyond routine visits to spill sites and work more closely with us in the fight for environmental justice. We must hold every polluting company accountable under Nigeria’s environmental laws.

We also raised concern about the increasing use of herbicides by local farmers. These chemicals, when misused, do not only kill weeds they pose serious risks to human health. We will intensify sensitization across our communities to protect our people.

We have directed the NESREA team to collaborate with the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor and the Honourable Commissioner for Information to deepen awareness and strengthen enforcement.

Together, we will continue to defend our environment and secure a healthier future for Bayelsa State.

God bless Bayelsa State.