Roads Infrastructure: Posterity ‘ll Smile At Diri-Activist

An environmental rights crusader and Niger Delta activist, Alagoa Morris, has said that posterity will smile on the governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, for his daring decision to connect all the local communities of the state to the state capital, through the senatorial roads.

There is an ongoing effort by the government to ensure that the three senatorial districts are connected to Yenagoa by road, even though the project has been seen to be very ambitious.

At the moment, vehicles can get into Ekeremor from Yenagoa. It happened for the first time during the present government.  TNN observed that for the first time also, vehicles will be able to access Oporoma, headquarters of the Southern/Ijaw Local Government in the next few months, while those wishing to drive to Brass will also have their dreams realized soon, as work is progressing steadily.

Morris, executive director of Environmental Defenders Network, EDEN, told TNN in an interview on Tuesday that it was gratifying to see a governor with the political will to confront the infrastructure of his state, despite the terrain and cost associated with such projects.

Saying that he had thought that Diri was joking about his seriousness to handle the project, Morris said he had to confront the governor at a point, to confirm that the decision to embark on the projects was not a ploy to gain popularity ahead of his re-election, at the time.

He said: “In fact, when I had the rare privilege of meeting with the governor around August, 2023, I was motivated to ask him just one question. That was what goaded me to seek audience with him and he graciously granted me audience. And I asked ‘Your Excellency, there is a rumour in Bayelsa state that you are using the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie and Nembe-Brass road projects as a ploy to get votes for your second term.’

“The governor’s response was ‘Morris, that is not true. I have been in the INC as an Executive and have toured several Ijaw communities which brought me face-to-face with the sufferings of our people. So, when God has given me the opportunity to occupy this position (as Governor), why should I play politics with such projects? Even if there is no funds, we shall borrow to prosecute these projects to as far as my administration can push it. So, please, it is not true.’

He noted that even though past governors, from the days when the state was under Rivers, there have been efforts to construct roads, “it is indisputable that the incumbent, Sen.Douye Diri is ahead of them all. Not only has he carried on some abandoned road project and bridges to logical conclusion,  but has started and completed some and continuing some long abandoned ones and newly initiated ones.

“This is very commendable, especially in opening up the state by linking rural communities to the state capital thereby reducing transport fares, enabling people to travel home or to the state capital anytime of the day. This also has the potentials of engendering socioeconomic development.

“So, while I am gladdened to see roads linking all communities in the state as possible; I am equally glad, if not more; that road is getting to my maternal and paternal communities. I have been monitoring the Polaku/Sabagreia Road, Akaba/Okodi Road, Onuegbum/Otuoke, Opume/Okoroba (NDDC abandoned), Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie, Nembe-Brass, etc.

Not just Road Infrastructure, but major road projects are already ongoing, including old, abandoned and new ones. One of the very first projects he started and completed was the Amassoma/Egbedi Road. Egbedi was the only community in Kolokuma/Opokuma local that was said to be unconnected by road.

“Governor Diri made it a reality within his first term. The long abandoned bridge to cross the Taylor Creek at Polaku, linking Sabagreia (Yenagoa local government and Kolokuma/Opokuma local government areas), is under construction now and that bridge and road when completed, will enable Bayelsans have alternative route to get into Yenagoa and fro and to the East/West Road.

“So, this no longer about sincerity or not, it is happening right before Bayelsans physically. You are aware that his administration has completed the second phase of the Glory Drive, linking the East/West Road from the Tombia/Amassoma Road, taking it from Igbogene where the Chief Timipre Sylva administration left it.

“The Ring Road, linking Igbogene to Bayelsa Palm has been completed too, even though not double lane. But he has taken it from Igbogene to Opolo/Elebele Road, joining the Bayelsa Palm axis. All these are landmark testaments to sincerity, in addition to the ongoing three senatorial roads (Nembe-Brass, Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie and Sagbama/Ekeremor).”

He said with the concentration on roads infrastructure, there was the possibility of jobs creation, employment opportunities and economic boom in all parts of the state, as farmers and fishermen can begin to move their yield to the city.

This aside, “it will enable our people travel at anytime of the day. Also, our creeks and rivers would see lesser speedboats and fishing activities would get some sigh of relief, with lesser noise in the water and lesser pollution too. Definitely…posterity would smile at Senator Douye Diri if he continues with the current spirit.”