By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

No fewer than six decades after its conceptualisation,the far-flung communities of Southern Ijaw council area of Bayelsa state might have just started heaving a sigh of relief as Nigeria’s Vice President,Yemi Osinbajo at the weekend flagged-off the Angia-Ibe(Angiama Communitiy – Oporoma link bridge project.
The Tide correspondent reports that the Southern-Ijaw council area of the state is more than ninety percent riverine and that Oporoma Communitiy, where the flagged-off bridge was expected to link is its headquarters,just as reports have added that Southern -Ijaw might probably be the largest local government area in Nigeria.
The flag-off by the Vice President was preceded by a historic drive on the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road, which construction has reached Angiama Communitiy,just as Vice President Osinbajo commended Governor Diri for continuing projects that predated his administration, noting that the 36km Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road was significant as it will improve the economy of the people and reduce the incidences of sea piracy in the area.
The nation’s number two citizen restated that the partnership between the federal and state governments was working as was evidenced in the refunds of money earlier spent on federal roads by state governments, assuring that the federal government will continue to support Bayelsa state to enable it meet its developmental aspirations.
He said the rural communities in Southern Ijaw were hosts to oil and gas wealth,which he identified as Nigeria’s economic mainstay, saying that as a result the council area like every other area with these economic contributions, deserves developmental projects.
The Vice President mentioned that no inclusive prosperity can thrive without linking communities by road,charging the people of the area to take ownership of the project,just as he also called on the people of the state to support the Diri’s administration to enable it deliver on its mandate.
Osinbajo expressed the optimism that the project would be completed by the governor and urged him to continue to serve the people of the state diligently.
“Let me thank my brother, Governor Diri, for inviting me to be part of the second anniversary celebrations and the traditional rulers for the title conferred on me. I also bring you warm greetings from President, Muuhammadu Buhari GCFR.
“I am, of course, very excited to join you for this project. Driving through the road, I appreciate the wonderful gift that nature has bestowed on the state.There will be no inclusive prosperity without linking communities by road. So this project is very important. We must commend our dear brother, Governor Diri and his team for continuing with this project that has been on the drawing board for over 60 years”, he said.
“The partnership between the federal and state government is working as evidenced in the refunds of money used by the states for federal roads. We are confident that what your administration has started will be completed at the highest quality. I assure you of the support of the federal government and that you have not been forgotten. Once more, I congratulate Governor Diri and the beneficiary communities”, the Vice President added.
In his remarks, Governor Douye Diri described the flag- off of the link bridge as significant to the people of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, given the fact that it has been on the drawing board for over 60 years, saying despite the daunting hurdles and notwithstanding the lean financial situation of the state, his administration decided to prioritise the completion of the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road in furtherance of a strategic government master plan.
Diri described the project as a Trunk A federal road, expressing the readiness of the state government to partner the federal government to ensure the speedy completion of the project.
The governor while commending the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) for doing a good job so far, directed the Ministries of Finance and Works and Infrastructure to release not less than seventy(70%) percent of the contract sum to the firm to enhance its job, thanking the Vice President for finding time out of his tight schedules to flag-off the project,describing him as a lover of the state and a friend of the Niger Delta region.
A statement made available to Newsmen by the Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa state Governor,Mr Daniel Alabrah quoted Governor Diri to have said: “That we are here today is the culmination of the collective prayers, resoluteness and singlemindedness of the people of Bayelsa State and a demonstration of the fact that determination and perseverance can make the most unlikely dream come true. Thank you for joining us to change the trajectory of development of Bayelsa State.Interestingly, this bridge project evokes a symbolism that is compelling. When the wonderful story of how a bridge changed the destiny of a people would be told, Your Excellency, your name will be conspicuously mentioned.
“Mr. Vice President, there is a particular symbolism in today’s event. In the same way that physical bridges connect places, collaboration is a ‘bridge’ that connects people and interests. Your presence exemplifies the bridge of cooperation that endures between this Government of Prosperity and the Federal Government. And similarly, it takes time, effort and planning to build cooperation, as it does a physical bridge. We are greatly encouraged by your attendance.This Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road project is only one of the few projects by the federal government in Bayelsa State. That this project has been ongoing for 60 long years is a sad parable of the lack of attention that successive federal governments have paid to the region that continues to provide the bulk of the nation’s resources, at severe and sacrificial cost”, Governor Diri said.
In a welcome address, the chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Chief Nigeria Kia, described the ceremony as one of the happiest days in the lives of all Southern Ijaw people given the significance of the project, noting that the local government, which has over 200 communities, has only about five connected by road.
The Council chairman thanked Governor Diri for prioritising the project while, assuring that the people of the area will continue to support him.
Also speaking,the state’s Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Moses Teibowei, said the road was one of the three senatorial road projects aimed at opening up the state and boosting economic activities while also decongesting Yenagoa and reducing sea piracy, lauding CCECC and expressed optimism that the road will be completed within the specified time.
The Tide reports that other high points of the flag-off ceremony was the conferement of the chieftaincy title, ‘Ebi-akubowei 1’ (one who seeks good or progress) of Angiama Kingdom on the Vice President by the Angia-Ibe (Angiama) traditional institution.
The Tide also learnt that the Vice President prior to doing the flag-off had earlier paid a courtesy visit on the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council where he thanked custodians of the Ijaw tradition for the warm reception accorded him,while the Vice Chairman of the state’s Traditional Rulers Council, King Malla Sasime, had also thanked Osinbajo for recognising the traditional stool by his visit to them.