My local champion, Gov Douye Diri, and as your ‘Dudie’ — a Bayelsan originally from Oshodi, Lagos — I want to draw your attention to an issue you are familiar with: street naming and proper addressing in Bayelsa State.
It is difficult to imagine that a 30-year-old woman still does not have a properly identifiable residential address. People have to rely on landmarks and verbal directions to locate her. At 30, she is an adult who should be able to identify her home address without confusion or depending on someone else to explain her location.
In today’s world, development is increasingly driven by digital footprints, geotagging, proper street naming and reliable addressing systems. These are not luxuries; they are basic requirements for effective urban planning, emergency response, security, commerce and modern governance.
If Bayelsa must take its place among progressive states, this is one issue that deserves urgent attention. I believe it should be addressed before the expiration of your tenure.
Previous administrations may have made attempts, but the challenge remains. This administration has an opportunity to go beyond those efforts and establish a functional, state-wide street naming and addressing system.
Your Excellency, we cannot continue in a cycle of announcements, political activities and repeated promises without addressing fundamental issues that affect everyday life.
Let Bayelsa have streets that people can identify, addresses that emergency services can locate and communities that can be mapped digitally.
This is a practical legacy that people will remember long after your tenure.
Tife Owolabi,PhD
Crisis Communication Strategist and Development Studies Scholar