Commissioner Defends Bayelsa Road Projects, Highlights Gains

Bayelsa State commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Moses Teibowei, has defended the ongoing road projects across the state, saying they are improving connectivity and boosting economic activities in many communities.

He also said the current administration has focused on opening up previously inaccessible areas through strategic road construction, noting that several completed projects are already making movement of people, goods and services faster and easier.

Speaking to journalists yesterday after a project tour of the Polaku-Sabagreia road and bridge, Teibowei explained that some key projects, though completed, are yet to be formally commissioned, including major dual carriageways within the new Government Reserved Area (GRA), as well as other critical link roads across the state.

According to him, one of the major successes of the government’s intervention is the Polaku-Sabagreia road and bridge, which has significantly reduced travel time and provided a more direct route to Yenagoa and surrounding areas.

“The Polako-Sabagriea road and bridge, for example, has significantly reduced travel time and improved movement of goods and people, even though it is yet to be formally commissioned.

“Before now, people had to travel long distances through the East-West Road to reach Yenagoa, but with the new route, movement is faster and easier. From Sabagreia, it now takes just a few minutes to get to key areas, saving both time and cost,” he said.

Teibowei further highlighted ongoing projects across Sagbama, Ekeremor and Ogbia local government areas, noting that work is progressing steadily with sand filling, bridge construction and other engineering works already at advanced stages.

He, however, acknowledged funding challenges, stressing that the government is prioritising the completion of existing projects and payment of contractors to avoid abandoned works.

“Funding remains a major challenge, as the government is currently managing multiple ongoing projects and contractor payments amid rising costs of materials. We are carefully balancing available resources to ensure that existing projects are completed and contractors are paid, rather than awarding new jobs that may not be sustained.”

The commissioner further highlighted the scale of internal road development in Yenagoa, insisting that the current administration has surpassed previous governments in opening up urban roads.

He maintained that numerous internal roads have been constructed across the capital and other communities, with ongoing efforts to rehabilitate dilapidated ones such as Saptex Road, Okaka Road and parts of Osiri axis, where drainage challenges are also being addressed.

Meanwhile, residents and community leaders in Sabagreia in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, have continued to express relief and renewed hope following the completion of the Polaku-Sabagreia road and bridge project.

The project, which connects previously hard-to-reach riverine communities to Yenagoa, has been described as a life-changing intervention that has eased movement and improved daily living.

Speaking on the impact, Rear Admiral Geoffrey Yanga (rtd) noted that the project goes beyond serving a single community, stressing that it represents a broader investment in humanity.

He explained that improved access has not only benefited Sabagreia residents but also enhanced connectivity for neighbouring communities and commuters who rely on the route for business and social activities.

“There is nothing to describe the feeling. I feel the way you are feeling. It is not only the community people that are benefiting from the road. Everybody is benefiting. It is an infrastructural development for humanity not only for Sabagreia people,” Yanga said.

In the same vein, Chief Philip Eseri, Compound Chief of Kalama Community, highlighted the drastic reduction in travel time, cost of transportation and the stress previously associated with accessing Yenagoa.