The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has commissioned the 3.6-kilometre Okansu Community Road and bridges in Ogba/Egbema, Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the NDDC Interim Administrator, Dr Efiong Akwa, assured that the Commission would continue to deliver quality projects for the benefit of the people of the Niger Delta region.
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer, who was accompanied by Directors of the Commission, charged the communities served by the road to ensure that they played their part to protect and maintain the project.
Akwa urged the people to appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Umana Okon Umana, who had provided the necessary support for NDDC to deliver on its mandate.
He commended the youths of Okansu for being very peaceful and providing the enabling environment for the project contractor to complete work on the road, which he noted is a link between several communities, in a record time.
Akwa also commended the contractor for doing a good job and thanked the community for appreciating the efforts of the Commission, promising that other impactful projects would be built in the area. He said: “Because you appreciate our efforts, more projects will be executed here in due course. We are currently building a 1.8-km concrete pavement road in your community and we will also intervene to rehabilitate your Primary School.”
The NDDC boss said the Commission would continue to execute projects that would enhance the living conditions in the Niger Delta communities. He assured that the projects would stand the test of time, given the difficult terrain in the region, and add value to the lives of the people.
In their address at the occasion, read by the Community Development Chairman, Mr. Clement Eke, the Okansu community praised the NDDC for promptly responding to their distress call and building a standard road and bridges in the area.
They remarked that the completion of the road and bridges had increased economic and social activities between them and their neighbours. They added: “The community is now more peaceful as both young and old people are now busy with one economic activity or the other, including an easier access to our farmlands.”