… As New Board Wooes Stakeholders Private Sector for Support
The Bayelsa state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, ESV Moses Teibowei says he is fully committed to the “Operation Return Bayelsa United to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL” at the end of the 2026/27 season project.
Esv Teibowei gave the assurance when the new management board of Bayelsa United led by Dr. Peter Singabele visited him on Tuesday at his office in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
He noted that he would give the board and the team all the necessary support to ensure that they return to the elite division at the end of the season adding that the operation return Bayelsa United to the NPFL is not a one-man assignment but a collective project for all stakeholders.
He said he was sad that the team was relegated to the lower division after spending years in the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, maintaining that Governor Douye Diri was equally unhappy that the club, went down.
The commissioner hinted that the governor is desirous to see Bayelsa United return to the NPFL immediately, which was why he appointed technocrats into the board, expressing confidence that the board would deliver on its assignment by returning the club back to the top flight.
Esv Teibowei commended the board for starting the process of returning the team to the NPFL early with the ongoing pre-season tournament aimed at discovering home-grown talents for the team while equally recruiting experienced players.
He urged the construction companies
operating in the state as well as the organized private sector to invest in the growth of the club and that the government cannot bear the burden of sponsorship all alone, stressing that he would interface with some of the companies operating in the state to be financially committed to the progress of the club.
”The Governor doesn’t want the club to be relegated in his time after securing promotion. That is why he has decided to appoint some of you with experience because he believes that you will be able to take the club back to the Premier League within one year before he leaves office,” Teibowei stated.
”I want to say that it is a very big task but I believe that when we work together, it’s a task that is achievable. Bayelsa United has no business being relegated,” he added.
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Bayelsa United Board, Dr. Peter Singabele, stated that his decision to accept the chairmanship role of the club was driven by his passion, having served as the pioneer chairman of the club.
He asserted that the board is focused and determined to see that the task given by the governor is achieved at the end of the season, maintaining that the board has hit the ground running with the pre-season tournament to identify talents.
Dr Singabele hinted that the sponsorship drive for the team had begun and that extensive marketing would commence immediately after the pre-season tournament.
He assured Bayelsans that the board would not disappoint them in its quest to return Bayelsa United to the NPFL at the end of the forthcoming NNL season.
Present at the visit were, Mr Raymond Angaye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works; Engr Apurumelala Cliff-Eribo, Director of Civil Engineering Department; and Mr Luckyv Afenfia, Director of Human Resources Management.
The Bayelsa United Chairman was accompanied by Mr. Ekpolaemi Odogu, who is the secretary of board, Sir Braveman Wodi, Mr. Ono Akpe, and Mr Godson Ekadi, who are members of the Board as well as Barr Poubeni Ogun, Chairman Bayelsa State Football Association and Mrs. Morenikeji Ajewole, Marketing Executive.


