… says projects key to N/Delta devt

By Emem Idio

A Professor of Petroleum Engineering at the Federal University of Agriculture, Nembe-Bassambiri, Bayelsa State, Engr. Prof. Sunday Igbani, has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission ,NDDC, under the leadership of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku for prioritising bridges construction and roads connectivity across the region.

Igbani said the intervention was particularly significant given the Niger Delta’s difficult terrain, characterised by rivers, creeks, swamps and waterways that have historically isolated communities and constrained economic activities.

He spoke during an interaction with the 51 FOR 51: The Ogbuku Impact Series team for Episode Five of the initiative, which focuses on infrastructure development and the role of bridges in connecting communities across the Niger Delta.

The series, convened by Mr. Okaniba Damson, is examining major interventions of the Ogbuku-led NDDC administration through engagements with professionals, community stakeholders and development experts.
Igbani said bridge construction should be regarded as a critical development intervention in the Niger Delta rather than simply an engineering undertaking.

“You cannot develop the Niger Delta effectively without connecting its communities. In this region, bridges are inevitable,” he said.

According to him, the impact of a bridge extends beyond the physical structure, as improved connectivity can open up communities, facilitate the movement of people and goods, expand access to markets and essential services, and stimulate local economic activities.

He cited the Ogbia-Nembe Road and Bridges project in Bayelsa State, executed in partnership with the Shell Petroleum Development Company, as an example of infrastructure capable of transforming connectivity in the region.

The 25.7-kilometre project comprises seven bridges, 53 culverts and four spurs and links 14 communities. It was inaugurated in May 2024.
The professor also identified the 600-metre Ibeno Bridge in Akwa Ibom State, constructed as part of the Iko-Atabrikang-Akata-Opulom-Ikot Inwang-Okoroutip-Iwochang road project, as another major intervention.

Other projects he highlighted included the Kaa-Ataba Road and Bridge and the Okrika-Borokiri Bridge in Rivers State, describing such projects as important responses to the physical barriers created by waterways across the region.

The Kaa-Ataba Bridge is about 1.2 kilometres long, while the Okrika-Borokiri Bridge is among the NDDC’s major legacy infrastructure projects.

Igbani also pointed to the 27.1-kilometre Bonny Ring Road and Bridges project in Rivers State, being undertaken by the NDDC in partnership with the Nigeria LNG Limited. The project includes 13 bridges and is intended to improve connectivity within Bonny Kingdom and neighbouring communities.

He further cited the Omadino-Okerenkoko-Escravos Road and Bridges project in Delta State, a 70.75-kilometre intervention being pursued in collaboration with the Delta State Government and Chevron Nigeria Limited.
Igbani said the projects demonstrated the importance of infrastructure that physically integrates communities and creates access to economic opportunities.

“A bridge is not just concrete, steel and engineering. It is a connection between people and opportunities. It can change the economic destiny of an entire community,” he said.

He urged the NDDC to sustain its infrastructure programme, particularly in communities where difficult terrain and waterways continue to limit movement and economic integration.

The don said the success of infrastructure projects should ultimately be assessed by their effect on the lives of residents, stressing that improved connectivity must translate into greater access to markets, education, healthcare and other essential services.

“The difficult terrain of the Niger Delta should not become a permanent barrier to development. Every bridge that connects an isolated community is an investment in the future of that community,” he said.

The interaction was part of Episode Five of the 51 FOR 51: The Ogbuku Impact Series, established to document and assess major interventions of the NDDC under Ogbuku as part of activities marking his 51st birthday.