Mr Domor Mienye has called for a more structured approach to infrastructure delivery following alleged delays in the take-off of the recently commissioned 60-megawatt gas turbine project in Bayelsa.
Mienye, a governorship aspirant in Bayelsa on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2027 election, made this known on Wednesday in Yenagoa, during an interactive session with journalists.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the gas turbine and other major infrastructural projects on March 10, in Bayelsa.
Mienye observed that the gas-fired turbine was yet to supply electricity to Yenagoa and its environs after the inauguration.
The Bayelsa Government had attributed the delay to ongoing installation of critical safety and protective systems.
Mienye, however, said that it was important to prioritise safety and long-term sustainability infrastructure projects, especially in the power sector.
He added that the infrastructure must be delivered in a way that ensures immediate functionality after commissioning.
According to him, electricity is not a symbolic project; it is fundamental to economic activity, livelihoods and the overall productivity of a state.
“When a power project is commissioned, people expect results, not extended delays,” he said.
Mienye said the situation highlighted a broader challenge in public sector project execution, where emphasis is often placed on commissioning rather than operational readiness.
“Infrastructure delivery must move beyond visibility to functionality. Commissioning should not be the milestone.
“We should be measuring success by whether the project is actually working and delivering value to the people,” he said.
Mienye, also a data scientist and artificial intelligence expert, stressed the need for a systems-based approach to infrastructure development, particularly in the power sector.
He said that power generation alone was insufficient without proper integration with distribution systems, operational testing and maintenance planning.
“What we need is an end-to-end execution model. From design to deployment, every stage must be aligned to ensure that once a project is delivered, it works seamlessly.
“Anything short of that creates delay, inefficiency and loss of public confidence,” he said.
While acknowledging the efforts of the Bayelsa Government in investing in the power sector, Mienye urged greater transparency and clearer communication with residents regarding timelines and expected outcomes.
“The people deserve clarity; they need to know what is being done, how long it will take and when they can realistically expect results.
“That level of transparency builds trust and accountability,” he said.
According to Mienye, reliable electricity remained central to unlocking Bayelsa’s economic potential, particularly in areas of small businesses, industrial development and job creation.
“Bayelsa cannot industrialise without power. We must ensure that projects like this are not just completed, but fully operational and sustainable. That is how we move from promise to real development.
“This is not about criticism for its own sake; it is about improving how we deliver projects so that they meet the expectations of our people and support long-term growth,” he added.
