Farmers in several very unreachable communities on
neighbouring sides of Rivers and Bayelsa States now have hope of easily
conveying their agricultural produce to urban markets, thanks to a
pending road project being expedited by the Niger Delta Development
Commission, NDDC.
Their hope came alive yesterday, following an assurance by the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli, that the contractor will go back to site before the end of January to ensure completion of the 23. 5-kilometre Otuasega-Emelego road project.
Addressing an enthusiastic crowd in Emelego, Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, after over two hours’ drive from Otuasega in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the Executive Director, Projects, said: “It is quite disheartening that this road is in this state. We have seen all the communities that this project connects. We will do our best to ensure that this road is completed in no distant time.”
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He explained that the NDDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sir (Barrister) Bassey Dan-Abia, has directed that they liaise with the contractor to ensure that work resumes on the project.
Speaking at the Otuasega, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Dr. Henry Ogiri, emphasised the importance of the project. He said “there is very serious need to link the two states. There is need for NDDC to fast-track the project to alleviate the sufferings of the people.”
The people of the nine communities the road is expected to traverse are predominantly farmers, who find it extremely difficult conveying their farm produce like plantains, bananas and cassava, to urban areas.
However, the representatives of Bayelsa and Rivers States on the NDDC Governing Board ,Hon Ball Turuofade Oyarede and Chief Ephraim Etete respectively who were together with the two Executive Directors on the trip, assured that the people that the Board will support the speedy completion of the project.
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