Jonathan Laments Abandonment of Projects He Initiated as Bayelsa Governor
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed regret over the abandonment of key projects he started during his time as governor of Bayelsa State, shortly after he became Vice President to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2007.
Speaking on Wednesday at the inauguration of the Best Western Plus Hotel in Yenagoa, the state capital, Jonathan revealed that his administration had embarked on the construction of one five-star and two three-star hotels to boost tourism and hospitality in Bayelsa — but the projects were left uncompleted by subsequent administrations.
He described the trend of abandoning ongoing projects as a major setback to development across Nigeria, saying it often leads to wastage of public funds and slows down economic growth.
“As the first elected deputy governor of Bayelsa State, the then governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, started hosting the African Movie Awards that brought people from America, South Africa and other countries. It was a world-class event. But back then, most of the visitors stayed in Port Harcourt because Bayelsa had no standard hotels,” Jonathan said.
He explained that the idea behind investing in tourism was to ensure that visitors spent money within the state to boost its economy, rather than having those funds flow into neighbouring states.
Jonathan recalled that as governor, he provided small loans — between ₦10 million and ₦15 million — to help local hotel owners upgrade their facilities, but lamented that after he left office, no one followed up on repayment or project completion.
“When I became governor, I quickly awarded contracts for three hotels — the Tower Hotel and two three-star hotels — to solve this accommodation problem. If those projects had been completed, Yenagoa would have become more attractive to tourists and investors. Unfortunately, when I left, everything stopped. That’s the problem with government continuity,” he said.
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He added that most states lose valuable investments because new administrations often abandon what their predecessors started, leading to waste and missed opportunities.
Governor Douye Diri, who also spoke at the event, praised the hotel’s owner, Dr Harcourt Adukeh, for his dedication and foresight in investing in Bayelsa’s economy.
Diri described the hotel as a landmark project that would create jobs, boost tourism, and contribute to the state’s overall growth. He also encouraged other Bayelsans to invest in their home state to drive development.
In their remarks, Dr Harcourt Adukeh and Mrs Initeme Aduke-Eromhonsele, the hotel’s Executive Director, said the Best Western Plus Hotel combines elegance, comfort, and modern design while offering guests a scenic view of the Oxbow Lake.
The hotel, which is affiliated with the globally renowned Best Western brand, marks a significant milestone in Yenagoa’s push to become a hub for tourism, business, and high-end hospitality in the Niger Delta.
