The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has handed over two of its uncompleted bridge projects in Bayelsa to the state government.
The critical bridges are located at Akenfa and Polaku in Yenagoa local government areas of the state.
The Polaku Bridge connects communities in Yenagoa with Sabagreia in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGAs as well as provides an alternative route from the East-West Road into the state capital.
It was started in 1982 by the late Melford Okilo government in Rivers State and taken over by the NDDC in 2000. But the project has been stalled for many years.
Similarly, the Akenfa Bridge project, which is across the Epie Creek, has been uncompleted for many years.
On assumption of office, the Governor Douye Diri administration approached the NDDC to take over construction of the projects due to their strategic importance to the state.
Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, while handing over documents on the projects to Diri during a courtesy visit to Government House, Yenagoa, yesterday, said the commission had paid off the contractors for work done.
Ogbuku noted that the state government now had the responsibility of ensuring their completion.
While seeking collaboration with the state government to deliver impactful projects to Bayelsa and other Niger Delta states, Ogbuku said the commission was also “willing to synergise with other partners such as the World Bank, Africa Development Bank and the European Union to develop the region.”
While commending Senator Diri on his developmental strides in the state, he hinted that the NDDC was in the process of offsetting the N2 billion owed Setraco for the Ogbia-Nembe road and that President Muhammadu Buhari was expected to inaugurate it in the second week of May.
Responding, Governor Douye Diri underscored the need for the NDDC to collaborate with governors of the Niger Delta states on project execution and ensure equitable distribution of infrastructure.
