Bayelsa Signs Landmark MoU with China’s CCECC to Boost Infrastructure, Agriculture and Housing Development
By Passman Akpos
Beijing, China — Bayelsa State’s drive to attract foreign investment and accelerate economic growth has received another major boost with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and Chinese construction giant, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
The agreement, signed over the weekend at CCECC’s headquarters in Beijing, covers collaboration on key sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, aquaculture, and mass housing for civil servants and low-income earners in the state.
Governor Douye Diri signed on behalf of the Bayelsa State Government, while Mr. Chen Sichang, President of CCECC, represented the company.
In a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the deal was described as another milestone following a similar agreement signed earlier this month with Dubai-based Jampur Group for the construction of solar panels and smart electricity meters in Bayelsa.
Mr. Sichang, in his remarks, hailed the partnership as a “landmark agreement”, emphasizing CCECC’s long-standing relationship with Bayelsa State.
> “CCECC started its first project in Bayelsa in 2012. We have successfully completed several projects over the past 13 years, including the Tombia Road, Niger Delta University Road, Airport Access Road, Glory Drive Phase 2, and the Yenagoa-Angiama section of the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road,” he said.
He also highlighted the company’s ongoing work on the 630-meter Angiama-Oporoma Bridge, the longest stand-alone bridge ever constructed by CCECC in Nigeria, describing it as a testament to the trust the Diri administration has placed in the firm.
Mr. Sichang reaffirmed CCECC’s commitment to supporting Bayelsa’s long-term growth through new projects in community access roads, power, water supply, mechanised agriculture, aquaculture, and fertiliser production.
> “We are dedicated to delivering more exemplary China-Africa cooperation projects that support the state’s long-term growth,” he added.
In his remarks, Governor Diri described CCECC as a true development partner, commending the firm’s track record and professionalism.
> “When I assumed office and saw the quality of work done by your company, I decided to continue with you. You are not only a construction company but also a development partner,” Diri said.
The governor noted that his administration had cleared inherited debts owed to CCECC and other contractors, which helped restore investor confidence in the state.
He further revealed plans to invite the President of Nigeria to inaugurate the Angiama-Oporoma Bridge in February 2026, marking his administration’s sixth anniversary.
Governor Diri also reaffirmed his commitment to providing mass housing, electricity, and pipe-borne water within the remaining two years of his tenure.
> “Two things I told myself we must do from day one are the provision of electricity and pipe-borne water. These are basic necessities,” he said.
The governor welcomed CCECC’s proposal to establish a fertiliser production plant in the state and expressed interest in mechanised agriculture and aquaculture as part of the new partnership.
> “When you become development partners, it means government alone is not the one bringing all the money. We will agree on the financing and investment model so that you are seen more as financiers and investors, not just contractors,” Diri added.
The MoU marks another step in Bayelsa State’s broader strategy to leverage global partnerships for sustainable development and private sector-led growth.
