As Bayelsa State celebrated its 30th year of creation with pomp, the governorship aspirant of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr Domor Mienye, has advocated a comprehensive, long-term development plan for Yenagoa, saying the state capital should receive greater attention in urban planning, public infrastructure, environmental management and investment as Bayelsa marks its 30th anniversary.

Already, the state Government has roll out it’s drumps in celebration of the state’s 30 years anniversary with different festivities which began on open on Monday, September 28, 2026, with an Ijaw Language Awareness Campaign followed by sports events at the Sports Complex starting at 4:00 PM.

The excitement intensifies on Tuesday, with a boat floats, a street rally, a cultural carnival, and a boat regatta across Yenagoa streets and Oxbow Lake.

Later that evening, Oxbow Lake will host the Bayelsa Musical Concert starting at 4:00 PM.

However, Mienye in statement acknowledged infrastructure investments made by successive administrations but said the capital’s development requires a coordinated approach extending beyond individual road construction and public building projects.

“Yenagoa should be a capital that Bayelsans are proud to call their own. We have a unique riverine environment, a rich culture and enormous potential in tourism, hospitality and the creative economy. We should be thinking seriously about what our state capital ought to look like in the next ten years,” he said.

The researcher proposed a long-term urban development framework covering land-use planning, transportation, drainage, waste management, public lighting, recreational facilities, waterfront development and commercial infrastructure.

He argued that Yenagoa’s rivers and waterways should form an important part of its urban identity, with carefully planned waterfronts, parks, hotels, restaurants and public spaces capable of attracting visitors and encouraging private investment.

“A well-planned capital is also an economic asset. When people visit Yenagoa, there should be attractive places to stay, visit, eat, hold events and conduct business. Our natural environment should become something we preserve and develop responsibly, not something we overlook,” he said.

Mienye also proposed attracting private investment into hospitality, commercial properties, recreation and other suitable developments, while strengthening physical planning institutions and establishing appropriate environmental safeguards, particularly around drainage, flooding and vulnerable waterfront communities.

“As Bayelsa turns 30, we should begin planning for the Yenagoa we want to see when the state turns 40. It should be cleaner, better organised, economically active and attractive to residents and visitors. Our capital should reflect both our identity and the ambitions we have for the future of our state,” he added.