Aguobiri—Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said his administration is committed to connecting Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw local government area, to the state capital, Yenagoa by road before he leaves office.
Governor Diri spoke during a routine inspection of the 24-kilometer road project at Aguobiri.
According to his chief press secretary, Daniel Alabrah, in a statement said, the Yenagoa-Oporoma road was originally a Federal Government project which was inherited by the state government.
He noted that the road has been on the drawing board for over 60 years.
Governor Diri, who inspected the project said he was satisfied with the progress recorded by the contractor and expressed the hope that it would be delivered as scheduled.
He said, “In this our first term, we are very sure that Southern Ijaw indigenes and all of us will drive to Angiama. Then we will lay the foundation for the bridge crossing the river into Oporoma.
“God willing, if we return, that bridge will also be completed. This means that we will have an access road to Oporoma, the headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
“The company handling the Yenagoa-Oporoma road, China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation, is doing well and keeping to the terms of the contract. We are all impressed by the job that is ongoing.
“But we won’t stop there as there are several communities beyond Oporoma. Our first target is to get to the headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
“The same way we are working tirelessly to get to the headquarters of Ekeremor Local Government Area.”
Senator Diri noted that he has prioritized all ongoing construction works, especially the three senatorial roads projects and would go the extra mile to partner multinationals in actualizing them.
“So far, of the three senatorial roads, work is going on speedily in the West and Central districts but yet to commence in the East.
“The reason is known by all of us but as a government we want to start something there.
“We have done our best to involve the international oil companies there, particularly the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, and the Federal Government. But if the responses do not come as expected, I think we still have some surprises there,” he said.
Mangrovepen.ng gathered that the governor and his team also made a brief stop at a section of the Igbogene-AIT outer ring road for inspection.
The site engineer, Mr. Ralph George, promised that the section would be completed for commissioning during the second anniversary of the Prosperity Administration.
