Shettima Inaugurates 33.5km Dual Carriageway In Rivers

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday inaugurated a 33.5-kilometre dual carriageway linking communities across Ikwerre, Emohua and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas of Rivers State.

The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Akpabu-Ikiri-Omoku road, which includes a river-crossing bridge, connects communities along an agricultural, commercial and oil and gas corridor leading to Omoku.

Speaking at the inauguration on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, Shettima said the road would improve access to markets, jobs, schools and healthcare while reducing the isolation of communities along the corridor.

“A nation becomes congested when opportunity is congested. People move because roads, markets, jobs and services have not moved far enough towards them,” the Vice President stated.

He said the road would help farmers move produce faster, reduce losses and lower logistics costs for businesses operating along the route.

“Roads are among the most democratic instruments of development. They serve the farmer carrying produce to market, the trader seeking customers, the worker travelling to employment, the student going to school and the patient seeking care. When a road works, society moves,” VP Shettima maintained.

“Public infrastructure must be judged by the lives it improves. A road earns its value when a farmer earns more, a child reaches school earlier, and isolation no longer punishes enterprise,” he said.

Shettima urged residents to protect the road from vandalism and other activities that could damage the infrastructure.

“Our next responsibility is to protect this asset from vandalism, reckless use and every practice that shortens the life of public infrastructure,” he said.

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, said the road would improve access and security in the three local government areas, which he said had previously suffered from kidnapping, oil bunkering and other criminal activities.

He said the road was fitted with lighting along its length and that security agencies would increase surveillance in the area.

“In this project, we have lights from the beginning to the end. So, even in the night, insecurity is totally eliminated. This won’t have been possible without the support of the Federal Government and the good people of Rivers State.

“I want to thank you for this special support that you have been giving to us for us to come here to say, to the glory of God, that promise made is a promise kept,” the governor said.

Fubara also spoke about the significance of the project to the state.

“I am a bit emotional today because for a very long time, I felt maybe we were not part of this country, but today I feel very happy that our country is also standing by us, ably represented here by no other person but distinguished Senator Kashim Shettima, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You can see why I feel emotion,” Fubara added..

The Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Prof. Temple Nwofor, said the road would improve connectivity and movement within the benefiting communities.

The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Dr Chidi Lloyd, also said the project would improve transportation and economic activity in the affected communities.

“This day is significant not because we are commissioning the Elele-Omoku road but because of what it represents. We sincerely appreciate the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We also thank the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory for his fatherly intervention and for standing with Rivers people on this journey.”