For decades, the people in the riverine communities of Ekeremor local government area in Bayelsa State, had no road access and could only travel by water to connect with others.
Now, with the commencement of the Ndoro-Peretorugbene Road, residents living in the deep mangrove swamps particularly in Peretorugbene, are filled with excitement and relief, seeing a project they had only hoped for finally coming to reality.
The road project, which cuts across a wide expanse of mangrove forest, will open access to Peretorugbene and link several fishing ports and neighbouring settlements.
Speaking on the importance of the road project, the Amananaowei of Peretorugbene Kingdom, HRM King Emomotimi Odikeme, Pere-Foukeregha IV, said that the connection will boost trade, ease movement for farmers and fishermen, and improve the overall livelihood of people in the area.
The monarch expressed satisfaction over the ongoing road project and appreciated the state governor, Douye Diri and his deputy, Lawrence Ewrudjakpo, for the long-awaited project.
“The project is going on well and we are very grateful to our miracle Governor and his Deputy for the great project that will significantly improve the logistics and economic development of our people,” he said.
An indigene, Mr Menas, who spoke to LEADERSHIP, explained that the ongoing Ndoro-Peretorugbene road project is making steady progress, with heavy sand-filling being done across the mangrove area using dredgers.
According to him, the dredging has already covered a long distance and the project is moving forward quickly.
He said, “They are doing sand-filling after the Ekeremor town axis and because of the distance from where they are to the communities, you know it’s a mangrove.
So, they are seriously sand-filling.
“There are some dredgers on the water, doing the sand-filling and they are progressing towards Peretoru axis. I think they are doing it phase by phase. They will cover a certain distance from a particular point to a particular point and it continues like that.
“At a particular point, they will then construct a bridge that will cross the main river straight to Peretoru before constructing the roads. They are coming close; the dredging work is going on speedily, and they have covered a long distance. It’s a work in progress.”
Meanwhile, Governor Diri had earlier instructed the Ministry of Works and the contractors to fast-track the sand-filling and construction work on the project.
“What we have seen so far is encouraging. The Ministry of Works, Pelfaco, the company responsible for the sand-filling, and Lubrik Construction Company, which is handling the main road construction, should expedite their work. They have to make sure that our timelines are met.”
”Our first-phase target is to get to Ndoro and have a spur to Peretorugbene. If we can achieve that in the remaining life of this government, whoever is coming next will complete the rest,” he said.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Moses Teibowei, said that the main construction of the road will begin next month, adding that an 80-meter bridge to Ndoro and a 150-meter bridge to Peretorugbene will also be built as part of the project.
A representative of Pelfaco, Mr Kazeem Ajala, said the company plans to finish the clearing and sand-filling work at Ndoro by April 2026. He explained that the sand-filling will be about 2.4 meters high, which will help prevent flooding in the area.
