Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri has praised President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s commitment to the second phase of the Nembe-Brass Road project.
Governor Diri made the commendation during the courtesy visit of the project’s contractors, A.I.L Infrastructure Limited, to Government House, Yenagoa.
The project, which had been on the drawing board for over 60 years, was started by the Diri administration in 2022. 60 percent of the 21km of phase one has already been completed.
The Bayelsa governor expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for mobilising the contractor to the site, saying the Nembe-Brass road was not just an infrastructure project but was crucial to the state’s economic development.
He said despite the project’s huge cost, his administration decided to kick-start it due to its significance to not just the people of the area but the entire state and Nigeria at large.
Diri stated that road construction was long overdue, given the contribution of the Nembe and Brass local governments to the national economy.
He expressed optimism that, given the contractor’s timelines, the project would be completed before the expiration of his second tenure.
Diri assured the contractor of maximum cooperation and directed the state’s Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and the chairmen of Brass and Nembe councils to work closely with the contractor to make the project a reality.
His words: “You might not understand the level of elation and happiness of the people of Bayelsa State, and particularly the people of Nembe and Brass local government areas over this project.
“I deliberately wanted to put this on record so the media would also know what is happening to our state and what is happening now. There is a lot of misinformation out there, and I believe that this event will go a long way toward correcting the misinformation.
“Bayelsa has three senatorial districts like every other state. But each of our senatorial districts leads to the Atlantic Ocean.
“This is a project we have been talking about for many years. But it is now being actualised. So, let me extend my heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his steadfast support and commitment to the development of Bayelsa State.
“To my mind and the rest of the citizens of Bayelsa, this project reaffirms Mr. President’s vision for inclusivity in national growth and development. The people of Bayelsa deeply appreciate this milestone that Mr President has approved for Bayelsa.
“This road is not just an infrastructure project but a long overdue economic lifeline. Our government took the bold initiative to commence the Nembe-Brass Road project, fully aware of the huge financial implications. But we were driven by the imperative to enhance connectivity, stimulate economic growth and open us up to the economic potential of the Atlantic Ocean.”
Earlier, Engr. Biodun Otunola, chairman of A.I.L Infrastructure Limited, said phase two of the project was awarded in July 2024, and the company had already done the preliminary work.
He explained that, given Bayelsa’s swampy nature, it would be a concrete road project and that concrete was the best technology to deploy on the job.
Otunola assured that the project would be built to high standards and completed within schedule. He solicited the state government’s support in community liaison and security and requested a date for the project’s formal flag-off.
