Bayelsa State Government has approved the appointment of the former managing director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Timi Alaibe, as the Chairman of the state Tourism Development Board.

CEOAFRICA.com gathered that the appointment of Alaibe was ratified few hours ago, when Governor Seriake Dickson constituted the board.

According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, other members of the board are Mr. Solomon Apreala, Mr. Ephraim Fallogi, Mr. Fred Nyananyo, Air Vice Marshall Atti Samuel (rtd) and Mr. Fyneman Wilson.

Others are Mr. Claudius Enegesi, and Miss Bini Ayafa. They will be inaugurated at a later date.

The board was charged to work effectively for the realization of the Tourism Island Project

“The Tourism Island, expected to form an integral part of the new Yenagoa City, spanning over 15,000 hectres lying between the Epie Creek and River Nun stretching from Igbogene to Tombia in the North down to Yenaka will be more of a private sector driven project.

“The Tourism Island, which is already in the early stages of what is expected to be a robust project, will have facilities such as a six-star hotel, an 18 hole- Professional Golf Association (PGA) Golf Course and world class Polo field among other facilities.

“It is hoped that, the new Tourism Development Board, made up of persons of proven integrity and disposition, will use their wealth of experience in the times past to attract the much needed private sector participation as well as translate government’s dream of developing a flourishing world class tourism facility to reality,” the statement reads.

Governor Dickson said his administration will not joke with the tourism sector since it valued its importance in the post Oil economy.