Bayelsa LG Chairmen Hold Stakeholder Sessions On 2027 Budget

Chairmen of the eight Local Government Areas in Bayelsa State have begun stakeholder engagement sessions ahead of preparing their 2027 budgets.

The initiative follows the state government's approach, with local councils engaging stakeholders to discuss proposed budgets and development priorities. Yenagoa Local Government Area on Tuesday held an interactive session with stakeholders, including members of the Yenagoa Legislative Assembly, to discuss and refine the proposed N18 billion budget for the 2027 fiscal year.

Mayor of Yenagoa, Mr Bulodisiye Ndiwari, said the projected N18 billion budget was based on the council’s current Internally Generated Revenue, federal allocations, exchange gains and other economic indices. Ndiwari said the council was also pursuing projects to increase its revenue and create employment opportunities. He cited the proposed fish farming project as one initiative expected to boost the council’s revenue and provide jobs for rural residents.

The mayor also addressed concerns raised during the engagement over the administration of the Swali Ultra Modern Market, which is currently being managed by the state government rather than the Yenagoa Local Government Council. Ndiwari said the local government controls several other markets, including Gbarain Market and Zarama Market.

On the Swali market, he explained that the state government developed the facility after the former Ovom market, known as Oyoyo Market, was relocated due to security challenges. According to him, the council at the time lacked the financial capacity to construct a modern market of that scale, leading the state government to build and operate the facility. He said there had been an initial understanding that the council would participate in managing the market, but successive efforts to reach an agreement were unsuccessful.

Ndiwari said the council is now working to build its own market in Yenagoa to provide trading space for residents involved in commercial activities. “We are looking forward to building our own market here in the city so that some of our men and women who are into the buying and selling business will have the opportunity to trade in that market which will be operated by council,” he said.

The mayor disclosed that land had already been procured for the proposed market.