Bayelsa State has bolstered its foreign investment drive with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for infrastructure, agricultural, aquaculture, and mass housing projects. The agreement was inked at CCECC’s headquarters in Beijing over the weekend.

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, signed on behalf of the government while President of the CCECC, Mr. Chen Sichang, signed for the firm in a statement by the governor’s spokesman, Mr. Daniel Alabrah. This new partnership follows a similar agreement signed on October 14, 2025 in Abuja with Dubai-based Jampur Group for solar panels and smart electricity meters in the state.

Alabra also revealed that Sichang described it as a landmark agreement and said at the ceremony that CCECC started its first project in Bayelsa in 2012, successfully completing numerous projects over 13 years, including the Tombia road, Niger Delta University road, airport access road, Glory Drive Phase 2, and the Yenagoa-Angiama section of the Yenagoa-Oporoma road. He highlighted the ongoing 630-meter bridge between Angiama and Oporoma as the longest stand-alone bridge ever built by CCECC in Nigeria, expressing gratitude for the confidence placed in the company and assuring timely, high-standard delivery.

Sichang emphasized Bayelsa as a key strategic partner and proposed collaboration on additional community access roads, power, water supply, mechanised agriculture, aquaculture, and fertiliser production. On financing, he stated that CCECC would invest in some projects while seeking government or credit support for others, looking forward to concrete partnerships and exemplary China-Africa cooperation projects.

Diri, in his remarks, commended CCECC as development partners, recalling that upon assuming office in 2020, his administration cleared backlog indebtedness to the company and others. He stated that after overcoming initial challenges, CCECC performed excellently and was among the first top companies to partner on state infrastructure development. Diri expressed alignment with proposed areas like roads, agricultureThe governor announced plans to invite the President of Nigeria to inaugurate the Angiama-Oporoma bridge in February next year during his administration’s sixth anniversary. He reiterated commitment to mass housing within his remaining two years, desiring private sector-driven projects in New Yenagoa City, along with power and water supply, which he deemed basic necessities since taking office. Diri accepted the fertiliser plant proposal and expressed government interest in mechanised agriculture and aquaculture, welcoming CCECC’s financing approach as investors rather than just contractors.