Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday inaugurated the Agbura–Oxbow Lake Road and the Oporoma Referral Hospital in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The Eagle Online recalls that in 2022, Governor Douye Diri invited Osinbajo to flag off the 630-metre Angiama–Oporoma Bridge across the River Nun to link the Southern Ijaw headquarters by road.
Osinbajo, speaking at the road inauguration, commended Governor Douye Diri for executing what he described as impactful projects.
He said: “Just as His Excellency has said, I was here about four years ago to do the groundbreaking for the Angiama–Oporoma bridge.
“We travelled through the forest, and when he said there was going to be a bridge here, I seriously had my doubts because it was just all forests that we saw that day.
“We were driving and driving and driving, what seemed to be an endless road.
“But we thank God that not only has he proved to be a man of his word, that bridge stands there today, and just as has been said, I will have the pleasure of confirming that the bridge is there.”
Osinbajo said the newly inaugurated road would improve connectivity across several communities and key institutions.
He said: “This particular enterprise that we are now about to commission is very special in many ways.
“As we’ve heard, not only does it open up Agbura, Swali, and other communities in the Yenagoa Local Government Area, it also opens up the Ogbia axis, where you have the Federal University in Otueke and Oloibiri, which is the place where oil was first discovered.
“So it has very important historic connotations as well.
“In addition to that, it connects several government facilities, including the NCDMB Towers, the Federal Secretariat, and the CBN headquarters here in Bayelsa State.
“So it’s a very, very important road indeed. I am happy and very honoured to be the one who will commission this special road.”
Earlier, Diri said the project had expanded economic opportunities and created jobs for youths during construction.
DIri said: “A new economic opportunity has opened with ease of transportation and access to more riverine communities along the Yenagoa–Oporoma–Ukubie road.
“When recently President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, made that historic visit to Bayelsa State to inaugurate the bridge, Prof. Osinbajo wanted to be part of the trip but he was said to be out of the country.
“Today, the man who flagged off the project, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, is here to witness the transformation and the reality that the Angiama–Oporoma bridge is now standing after his last visit four years ago. Once again, congratulations to all Bayelsans for this milestone.”
