Bayelsa Entrepreneur Appeals to Diri Over Unreleased ₦500m Interest-Free Loan
ISSN: 2354-4481
By Ibiye Oboromakpo Jenifer
YENAGOA, Bayelsa State — A Bayelsa-based entrepreneur, Winsome Tariere Dan-Adere, has appealed to Governor Douye Diri to intervene over the reported non-disbursement of a ₦500 million interest-free loan publicly promised to her in June 2025.
Governor Diri had in June 2025 announced interest-free soft loans totalling ₦750 million for two Bayelsans seeking to expand their businesses and create employment opportunities.
Under the announced intervention, one beneficiary was expected to receive ₦250 million, while Dan-Adere was to receive ₦500 million.
The announcement generated excitement among residents, particularly on social media, as supporters and well-wishers welcomed the initiative and expressed optimism that the funding would help the beneficiaries expand their businesses, employ more workers and contribute to Bayelsa State’s economic development.
However, more than a year after the announcement, concerns have emerged over the implementation of the promise.
Dan-Adere has reportedly not accessed the ₦500 million facility despite her efforts to fulfil the requirements necessary to obtain the funds.
According to her account, she has made several attempts through the appropriate channels to secure the promised funding, but the process has yet to result in disbursement.
She has consequently appealed directly to Governor Diri to review her case and ensure that the commitment made publicly in June 2025 is implemented.
The development has raised questions about the status of the government’s intervention and the circumstances surrounding the delay in releasing the funds.
The loan was announced as an empowerment initiative aimed at supporting entrepreneurs capable of expanding their businesses and creating employment opportunities for other residents.
For young entrepreneurs in Bayelsa, the implementation of such programmes is considered significant, particularly in a state where government and private-sector efforts to promote self-employment and enterprise development remain important components of economic diversification.
The case also highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in the implementation of government programmes. Public commitments to citizens, particularly those involving economic empowerment, are expected to be followed by clear implementation procedures and measurable outcomes.
Dan-Adere’s appeal is therefore seeking clarification and intervention rather than a new government commitment. She wants the relevant authorities to determine what has caused the delay and establish whether all conditions attached to the proposed facility have been satisfied.
The governor could direct the relevant agencies responsible for the intervention to review the matter, establish the current status of the application and communicate the outcome to the beneficiary.
If all stipulated requirements have been met, the beneficiary is asking that the promised facility be released without further delay.
The matter has also attracted attention because of the size of the announced intervention and its potential impact beyond the immediate beneficiaries. Funding of that nature could support business expansion, create jobs and provide economic opportunities for other Bayelsans if properly implemented.
For the Diri administration, resolving the issue could also reinforce confidence in its entrepreneurship and empowerment programmes.
The circumstances surrounding the delay in Dan-Adere’s case were not independently established in the information available for this report. The Bayelsa State Government and relevant authorities have not, in the material provided, publicly explained why the ₦500 million facility has reportedly not been disbursed.
The appeal now puts the focus on the administration to clarify the status of the commitment made in June 2025 and determine the next steps.
For Dan-Adere, the request remains straightforward: that the government review her case and, where all requirements have been fulfilled, make the promised funding available.
News Background / Location
Location: Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Background: The matter dates back to June 2025, when Governor Douye Diri announced a combined ₦750 million interest-free soft-loan intervention for two Bayelsans to support business growth and job creation.
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