By SAM JONES
YENAGOA (Sundiata Post) – The Bayelsa State Government is constructing 116.4 kilometers in road projects worth N199.134 billion that are expected to link the mainland with the coastal communities.
The ongoing road projects are the 42 kilometers Sagbama – Ekeremor road worth N34.4 billion, 22.2 kilometers Yenagoa – Oporoma road costing N31.4 billion, 21 kilometers Nembe – Brass road at a cost of N54 billion, 10.2 kilometers Gloryland Drive Gloryland Drive worth N24.774 billion and the 21 kilometers Igbogene – AIT/Elebele Outer Ring road worth N54.56 billion.
Leading Journalists on a tour of the road projects on Monday, the Director, New Media to Governor Douye Diri, Dr Kola Oredipe, said the priority of the prosperity government is to open up the riverine communities.
Oredipe said the projects would boost the economy of the local communities and the state in general and improve the internally generated revenue profile of the state.
He said the 42-kilometer Sagbama-Ekeremor road with six bridges has asphalt work about 80% completed and it will save residents of the area from rigorous travel by river to access other communities in the state.
On the 32-kilometer Yenagoa-Oporoma-Okubie road, which is expected to open up communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government area, he said the road is already in its last phase.
Work is ongoing to cross the River Nun with a long bridge on the stretch from Angiama across to Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government area.
At Ekeremor, he said: “A lot of work has been done between Toru-Orua and upto this point in Ekeremor Town, we are on the last bridge linking Ekeremor Town by road.
“We have asphalted upto Isampou community, and the remaining stretch is just from Isampou community and Ekeremor main town; from Toro-Orua to Angalabiri, then we get to Ofoni and Ayamasa, and Aleibiri, you will see that about five communities and other communities inside, meaning that this road has provided access to several riverine communities in the state.
“With the way the contractor is working, the road will be ready by February next year.
“We have constructed five bridges on the stretch leading to Ekeremor Town already; supposedly we are on sixth one. The road is a 42 kilometer stretch from Toro-Orua upto Ekeremor main town, five bridges have already been completed by the government.
“The government is also working on the Gloryland Drive in Yenagoa, 10.2 kilometer dualized road, from Ecumenical Centre upto Amassoma road: from there we also drove through Igbogene-AIT Outer Ring Road, 21 kilometers.
“The Igbogene axis has been completed, and we are here in Angiama community where the bridge is being constructed across River Nun to Oporoma, the headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government.
“The priority of prosperity government of Senator Douye Diri is to open up the riverine communities that are logged in water.”
On the expectation of the people, he stated: “People here have been waiting and praying for this road for more than 40 years, and this government is committed to ensuring that they drive straight to Yenagoa.”
A resident of Ekeremor Town who identified himself simply as Mr Charles, expressed happiness for being privileged to see the road linking the area for the first time in his life, saying the era of suffering on the river was over.
He said: “We have never seen road in Ekeremor Local Government all our lives. We use canoe. If we want to travel to Yenagoa, we will first cross by boat to Bomadi in Delta before moving to our state capital in Yenagoa, but now, we are enjoying road, we can drive directly to Sagbama and then Yenagoa, so we are enjoying road here. Even if it has not yet been completed, we can get to several communities around us through this road.
“We are thanking God for using the governor to give us this road, at least our children can know how road looks like, and will not pass through the same suffering we passed through in the river when we were growing up.
“Most people lost their lives in boat mishaps or attacks by hoodlums on the river: we are very happy we can now drive by road to Ekeremor.
“It was rigorous for us in those days because we were paddling from Bomadi in Delta. Before you can get to Yenagoa, you can spend up to two days on a journey that will be less than two hours by road.
“My happiness knows no bounds because of this road, even if I have not seen anything from the government, but with this road, I’m contented all the time and the entire Ekeremor Local Government is very happy over this road.
“With this road, our crops are easily moved to town for sales compared to when it was left to rot when there was no road.”
