The Bayelsa Government says the construction of the ongoing Nembe-Brass road is aimed to harness the potentials in the deep sea oil fields for economic prosperity.

Prof Nimibofa Ayawei, Secretary to State Government (SSG) stated this on Friday at the Bayelsa Media Summit with the theme: Media, Culture and Identity, Promoting Indigenous Perspectives.

Ayawei spoke on the topic, “Setting a Media Agenda for Assured Prosperity”.

The SSG, regretted that in spite of the enormous maritime potentials of Bayelsa including over 200 kilometres coastline, the state was yet to have them translated to economic benefits to the people of the state.

According to him, the lack of road access to Brass Oil Export Terminal has deprived the state of enormous economic benefits including Pay as You Earn taxes by oil workers at the Brass Terminal.

He explained that the lack of infrastructure has compelled oil services companies to operate from neighbouring Rivers and Delta states.

The SSG noted that the state is poised to exploit the comparative advantage of proximity to offshore oil fields by creating the conducive environment for oil and gas related businesses to thrive.

He explained that the geographical location of Bayelsa places the state in proximity to offshore oilfields like Bonga and Egina fields.

Ayawei said that the state was aggressively pursuing the road project to harness economic potentials of the blue economy and the offshore oilfields.

“We are deliberately working to hit the Atlantic Ocean by road to unlock the benefits of the Atlantic from Brass.

“Currently the oilfields are serviced from either Port Harcourt or Osubi Airports for air logistics.

“For marine services, typical vessels destined for the oilfields take between three hours and seven hours from either Warri or Port Harcourt but from Brass in Bayelsa it takes between one and half hours to get the the oilfields.

“It makes a lot of sense therefore to connect Brass by road to unlock the maritime potentials and this explains why Bayelsa created the Ministry of Blue Economy”.

He commended the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government for collaborating with Bayelsa government in funding the second phase of the Nembe-Brass road.

The Media Summit put together by the Bayelsa council of Nigeria Union of Journalist attracted over 400 media practitioners.

The summit featured lectures and panel session on contemporary issues in media practice in Bayelsa.