The Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh says President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will commission the 1.2 km Kaa-Ataba Bridge, which links the Khana and Andoni Local Government Areas in Rivers State.
Momoh stated this during an inspection of the bridge, which he described as the longest bridge in the Niger Delta region, accompanied by the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku; the Executive Director Projects, Dr Victor Antai; the Executive Director Corporate Services, Hon Ifedayo Abegunde; and other Directors of the Commission.
The Minister noted that the bridge project demonstrated the Federal Government’s determination to develop the Niger Delta region and commended the NDDC Board and Management for responding appropriately to the directives of President Bola Tinubu to deliver impactful projects in the Niger Delta region.
He stated: “The NDDC has done very well and I have good news to transmit to Mr President. I am hopeful that Mr President will commission the Project in November.”
“The President is committed to the completion of legacy projects like this, and I am glad that it is being executed by an indigenous contractor.”
Momoh expressed satisfaction with the progress of work, noting that the legacy project reflected the President Tinubu administration’s desire to transform the Niger Delta region. He assured that the road and bridge project would be completed and commissioned in November.
Also speaking, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, reiterated the Commission’s commitment to the presidential mandate to change the narrative in Nigeria’s oil-producing region. Ogbuku affirmed that the Commission would do all that was necessary to enable the contractor to complete the project on schedule.
The NDDC boss restated the Commission’s commitment to the presidential mandate to complete all legacy projects in the Niger Delta region. He affirmed that the Commission would do all that was necessary to enable the contractor to complete the project on schedule.
According to Ogbuku, adverse weather conditions had hampered the delivery of construction materials to the site and delayed the bridge’s completion.
The Managing Director reaffirmed that the project would be inaugurated this year, stating that the contractor had given a firm assurance it would be delivered on schedule.
The NDDC Executive Director Projects, Dr Victor Antai, explained that the Kaa-Ataba Bridge project comprised two bridges, stating: “The first bridge has 57 piers, while the second bridge, which is 250 metres, has 15 piers.”
According to him, “the contractor is working assiduously to deliver the bridge in the next one month.
Briefing the Minister, the Managing Director of the contracting firm, Engineer Christian Emeozor, assured that work on the bridge has reached 95 per cent completion.
He explained that adverse weather conditions had contributed to delays in completing the project. He promised that the project would be delivered on schedule.
He assured his company would do everything necessary to ensure the project’s early completion, declaring, “We are committed to delivering on speed and quality.”
The second-in-command to the Paramount Ruler of the Ataba Kingdom in the Andoni Local Government Area, Chief Idan-Owaji Erasmus, applauded the NDDC for executing the project, noting that it would enhance social and economic activities in local communities.
He assured the NDDC that his people would cooperate with the contractor to ensure the project was completed on schedule.
The NDDC inspection team also visited the ongoing work on the 3.75-kilometre Okrika-Borikiri Road, which has three bridges linking Okrika and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The NDDC boss expressed dissatisfaction with the project’s progress and charged the contractor to accelerate work on the site or face consequences. See less
