Edo, Delta Commend Jonathan Over Bridge Project

A delegation of five
communities hosting the recently completed Utor River Bridge project on the Asaba-Ebu-Uromi Road in Delta have paid a ‘thank-you’ visit to President Goodluck Jonathan.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo received the delegation comprising the traditional rulers of Ebu, Illah, Emu, Inyele and Igbedo communities on behalf of Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The president is currently away in the United States where he is attending the U.S.-African Leaders’ Summit, hosted by President Barack Obama, in Washington DC.
In a statement made available to State House correspondents after the closed door meeting, the communities thanked the Federal Government for making the bridge project a reality.
It quoted the communities as saying that the bridge, which links Edo and Delta, had opened up the immediate host communities to robust socio-economic activities.
The statement stated that the communities pledged their support for the Jonathan’s administration, and called on him to seek re-election in 2015.
The statement read in part; “The project, which was abandoned for many years by various administrations, was eventually re-awarded and completed by the Jonathan’s administration.
“We are here to lend our support to his continued stay in office beyond 2015 so as to enable him complete the good works he is doing for our dear country, Nigeria.
“We pledge to mobilise over 20 communities in the area to realise this dream,’’ they said.
They also commended the Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, and the entire members of the Federal Executive Council, for “a job well done’’.
Onolememen, who spoke with correspondents after the meeting, said  the project was first awarded by the Federal Government in 2006 but was abandoned in 2009.
He explained that the bridge, which would be inaugurated in September, would provide alternative route and reduce travel time by 1 hour, 30 minutes from Asaba and Onitsha to Abuja.
“Jonathan graciously approved that Federal Ministry of Works should takeover the project and complete it, and to the glory of God the ministry has just completed the project.
“And the communities through their leaders deemed it fit to come and thank the Federal Government because they see the bridge as a game changer in their lives.
“The bridge has opened up the entire communities and the local economy there is evolving, so they are very grateful for this.
“That is how important the bridge is because it is going to connect a federal road Irua to Ilushi and from there you connect to Okene in Kogi onward to Abuja.
“Apart from the bridge, which is about 400 metres long, we also have approach roads on both sides of Delta and Edo totalling about 10km.
“All that said have been completed and the entire Utor Bridge project is slated for inauguration in September,’’ he said.