The Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the state government’s proposed multi-billion naira stadium project at Igbogene in Yenagoa Local Government Area, describing it as a misplaced priority at a time when residents are grappling with worsening economic hardship.
In a statement issued by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Ikaebimo Mark, the opposition argued that committing billions of naira to a new stadium could not be justified when many Bayelsans continue to face hunger, unemployment, poverty, inadequate healthcare, declining educational standards and limited access to clean drinking water.
While reaffirming its support for sports development and acknowledging the importance of modern sporting infrastructure, the PDP maintained that the proposed project should not take precedence over investments capable of creating jobs, improving livelihoods and addressing the state’s pressing socio-economic challenges.
The party urged the government to channel greater attention and resources to sectors such as agriculture, which it said has suffered years of underfunding, as well as initiatives that support small and medium-sized businesses struggling under difficult economic conditions.
The PDP also dismissed Governor Douye Diri’s justification that the stadium would serve as a platform for youth empowerment, arguing that genuine empowerment should be reflected in improved living standards and expanded economic opportunities for young people.
“The greatest infrastructure any government can build is the economic well-being of its people. Youth empowerment is not measured by the size of a stadium but by the number of young people gainfully employed, thriving small businesses, skilled entrepreneurs created, investments attracted, and opportunities available for young people to build productive and prosperous lives,” the statement said.
The opposition further questioned the need for another stadium when the existing Samson Siasia Stadium has yet to be fully developed into a centre for talent discovery, grassroots sports development, sports tourism and sports-related enterprise.
It challenged the Diri administration to disclose how many Bayelsa youths had benefited from sports empowerment initiatives over the past six years, particularly through programmes linked to the Samson Siasia Stadium.
The PDP also demanded full public disclosure of the proposed stadium project, including details of its procurement process, contract value, funding arrangements, project scope, implementation timeline and projected economic benefits.
According to the party, Bayelsans deserve to understand the economic justification for investing in another stadium at a time when the state urgently requires industrial parks, agro-processing centres, technology hubs, vocational training institutes, manufacturing clusters and investment corridors capable of generating sustainable employment and wealth.
The opposition called on the state government to prioritise economic recovery by investing in agriculture, industrialisation, skills acquisition, innovation, entrepreneurship and private sector development.
It also urged the Diri administration to launch a comprehensive economic recovery, wealth creation, employment generation and food security programme to address the rising hardship confronting residents across Bayelsa State.
The criticism comes amid growing public debate over infrastructure spending by state governments as many Nigerians continue to contend with the effects of inflation, rising food prices and unemployment. While advocates of major infrastructure projects argue that such investments stimulate economic activity and long-term development, critics insist that governments should first prioritise programmes that directly improve living standards, create jobs and strengthen essential sectors such as agriculture, healthcare and education.
