… Sets Up Tripartite Contact Committee
From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Government has called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to resume and complete the long abandoned Bridge Project in Akenfa Community, a suburb of the state capital city, Yenagoa
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the call while presiding over an enlarged meeting with representatives of the NDDC, community leaders of Akenfa Community and relevant government officials at his office in Government House, Yenagoa, on Thursday.
A statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, quoted the Deputy Governor as clarifying that, although the state government decided to take over some neglected NDDC projects in the state, including the Polaku-Sabagreia Bridge, that of Akenfa was reverted back to the interventionist federal agency after a mutual discussion between the two parties.
Describing the Akenfa link-Bridge project as strategic and critical to pedestrians and vehicular movements in the oil-producing community, Senator Ewhrudjakpo informed that government officially communicated the re-handing over of the project to NDDC in a letter dated 10th March, 2025.
He empathized with the Akenfa community over the delay in the execution of the project, and urged the NDDC to expedite the process of completing it with a view to putting an end to commuting challenges facing the people.
His words: “The project has actually been sent back to the NDDC to handle. But the NDDC seems to be far away from the Akenfa Community. So they find it easier to come to us.
“We believe that the project has gone a long way. What is required to complete it may not be as much as what has gone in there.
“So, we felt that we should hàve this tripartite interaction to let the community know officially that the project is now in the hands of NDDC, and also to let the agency know that our community is agitated considering the long history of that project.”
Responding on behalf of the NDDC, the Bayelsa representative, Senator Deinyabofa Dimaro, said the Commission would review the entire project and have it captured in its 2026 budget for seamless execution.
Senator Dimaro, who promised to properly relate the issue to the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, however, requested relevant documents from the State Government regarding the reversion of the project back to the NDDC.
Representatives of Akenfa Community who spoke at the meeting included, former Chief of Staff Government House, Yenagoa, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha, and a one-time paramount ruler of the community, Chief Isiya Albert.
Meanwhile, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has on behalf of the Governor constituted a tripartite contact committee involving the government, the NDDC and the Akenfa community to ensure the resumption and completion of the stalled Akenfa Bridge project.
Members of the committee include the state NDDC representative, Senator Deinyabofa Dimaro; the Commissioner for Special Duties (Central), Mr. Mandy Akpallo; and Chief Dikivie Ikiogha.
Others are the Technical Adviser to the Governor on NDDC Matters, Mr. Kuro Nyenye; Chief Isiya Albert; Secretary to the Akenfa Community, Mr. Wilson Mumeya, the Youth President, Mr. Moses Izibekiebo, as well as an engineer to be nominated by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.
Top government functionaries that attended the meeting include, the Member representing Yenagoa Constituency 1 in the State House of Assembly, Chief Ayibanengiyefa Egba; Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Hon. Bulodisiye Ndiwari, and his Yenagoa Rural Development Authority counterpart, Mr. Bobby Gabriel; as well as the NDDC State Director, Engr. Alamieyeseigha Godknows, and Assistant Director, Engr. Anthony Perewari.
