GOVERNMENT OF BAYELSA STATE OPPOSES SHIRT DEAL WITH BAYELSA UNITED

The Bayelsa United and Halkin Exploration and Production Limited jersey sponsorship deal has been severed by the Bayelsa State Government.

According to the state administration, Bayelsa state was embarrassed by the agreement reached to cover the remaining portion of the 2023–2024 NPFL season.

Daniel Alabrah, the chief press secretary for the state’s governor, Douye Diri, stated in a statement that the government had neither approved nor endorsed any agreement involving the state-owned club during the current football season and that it was unaware of any such agreement.

“Senator Diri, the governor of the state, expresses shock and embarrassment over reports that the state-owned football team, Bayelsa United, has signed a new kit sponsorship deal.” According to the statement, “The Governor wishes to clearly state for the record that he is not aware of any such deal involving Bayelsa United and Halkin Exploration and Production Limited.”

“As a result, Governor Diri has instructed Daniel Igali, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, and Ebiki Timitimi, the Chairman of Bayelsa United, to immediately halt the process until a thorough investigation into the matter is completed.”

The government of Bayelsa state is reportedly reacting negatively to this agreement due to the state’s current strained relationship with Halkin Exploration and Production Limited.

According to reports, the business bought Oil Mining Lease 46, commonly referred to as the Atala Oilfield, which is held by the state government of Bayelsa.

Calling the oilfield “a prized asset of the state,” Governor Diri agitated against the Department of Petroleum Resources’ decision to revoke the OML 46 license in April 2020.

According to the government, an initial probe revealed that the arrangement ignored due diligence and required clearances from pertinent authorities.