NDDC, Shell inaugurate 27 km Ogbia-Nembe Road

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at the weekend inaugurated the 27-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe road project in Bayelsa.

NDDC and SPDC jointly funded the multimillion-naira 27-kilometre road with seven bridges.

Inaugurating the road which links Ogbia and Nembe Local Government Areas (LGAs), President Bola Tinubu pledged a sustainable development of the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Tinubu, who was represented by Mr Abubakar Jimoh, Minister for Nigerian Delta Affairs noted that the completion of the project which spanned 18 years has brought relief to 14 communities at the corridors of the road who hitherto relied only on water transport to commute.

Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director and Chief Executive of NDDC expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for renewed vigour in funding development projects in the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku who hails from Ogbia LGA in Bayelsa noted that the project exemplifies the inherent potential of public-private partnerships.

He said that Tinubu was committed to a holistic development of the Niger Delta region.

He said the attitude of the President and implementation of the renewed hope agenda had restored peace resulting in increased oil production.

On his part, Mr Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director, SPDC noted that the oil firm was delighted to close out the project.

He applauded the NDDC for religiously implementing the partnership.

Okunbor said that Bayelsa holds a special spot in the energy firm’s activities as hosts and history.

Gov Douye Diri of Bayelsa who was represented by his Deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo said that the state was delighted that the road conceived in the 1940s has come to fruition.

He noted that it was regrettable that the contributions made by the Bayelsa State government under former governor Seriake Dickson were not recognised at the event.

Ewhrudjakpo recalled that the Nembe-Brass Road was stalled in 2007 until the state government catalysed the reactivation of the road in 2013.

“Worried by the comatose state of the road, we stepped and found out from the contractor that they were having three challenges namely insecurity, community agitations and funding gaps.

“The Bayelsa government brought all parties to the table and provided N3 billion, reinforced security and spoke to the communities to support the project.

“Unfortunately, that is not reflected in the narrative today,” he said.

He invited the stakeholders to join the state government in the ongoing 21 km Nemba-Brass Road to hit the Atlantic and the Brass Oil Export Terminal.

Speaking on behalf of the benefitting communities, a representative of King Edmond Daukoru of Nembe, Chief Eruwari Igbeta thanked the NDDC, Shell and Bayelsa government for ending the cries of the people.