By Samuel Oyadongha

For residents of Polaku community and Sabagreia community in Yenagoa and Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Areas, Bayelsa State, these are happy times. The people are excited over the completion of the new bridge across the Nun River connecting both communities.

Before the intervention of the state government led by Senator Douye Diri, residents could access both communities through local hand paddled boats mainly operated by women for a token with its attendant risk especially at the peak of the rainy season when the water level is very high. In the alternative they are compelled to go through East- West road which is a far longer passage and time consuming. Though the project was started in 1982 by the administration of Melford Okilo in old Rivers State, it was however abandoned in the aftermath of the military coup that sacked the second republic. Following its initial abandonment, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) took over the project in 2000 but after further years of inaction, it was handed over to the Bayelsa State government to complete.

NDV findings reveal that the about 3.5km roads connecting Polaku and Sabagreia-Opokuma to the completed bridge are also nearing completion as well as a new culvert constructed to resist flood effects especially on the Polaku axis.

The project will not only benefit communities of Kolokuma-Opokuma LGA and Yenagoa LGA alone, but Sagbama, Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw Local Government Area communities, that will have easy access to the East West Road and as well the state owned international airport and the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital Okolobiri.

The excitement of the people over the project is profound. It was a soul-lifting moment for residents from both communities who are already using the completed bridge instead of the usual boat ride across the River Nun.

A resident of Polaku, Paye John said: “This is the best thing to have happened to our people. We have never had it this good. Imagine we  waited for more than four decades to see this magnificent project connecting our communities come true.”

You need to see the number of our people from the diaspora that thronged this project site during the yuletide to confirm what our ‘Miracle Governor’ is doing. The project is commendable and it will save us the pain of boat mishaps and avoidable deaths during the high flood,” he added.  

Another resident, who simply gave her name as Ms Timi, literally soaked to appreciate the project which will be commissioned soon. She said: “The people shout joy has come; it is simply a beautiful sight to behold. The Polaku-Sabagreia bridge and road are great and it’s all thanks to our indefatigable and resilient governor who has restored light to the soul and heart of residents.”

A trader, who simply gave his name as Godgift, said they were overwhelmed by the fantastic job done on the road by the construction firm. He said it would improve commercial activities in the area as many people could easily access the area.

“When they started work, we thought it was another political gimmick to hoodwink us but it turned out to be a success story. This calls for celebration.”

Diri’s New Year gift

Another indigene of the area but resident in Yenagoa, Didi Ande, said she was excited during her visit to the Opokuma-Polaku-Sabagreia road/bridge last month “What I saw was breathtaking. The  completion of the over 200 metres structure was started in the early eighties when Bayelsa was part of the old Rivers State. It was abandoned following the collapse of the second republic. The NDDC inherited the project in 2000 but it was again stalled due to alleged poor funding until the Diri-led Prosperity administration took over the project in 2023 and completed the same after 44 years of waiting.”

“I was surprised to see that the over-joy folks were already making use of the bridge even though it was yet to be commissioned. I must commend the governor for visionary leadership of development and linking up our villages and creeks with roads and bridges in the last six years,” she added.

A stakeholder, who spoke anonymously, said Diri’s engagement is in keeping with his promise “to deliver quality public service in a timely and competent manner with an emphasis on public safety and a healthy living.”