Former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday inaugurated the Agbura–Oxbow Lake Road as well as the Oporoma Referral Hospital in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
It would be recalled that in 2022, Governor Douye Diri had invited the then Vice President to flag off the 630-metre Angiama–Oporoma Bridge across the River Nun, a project aimed at linking the headquarters of Southern Ijaw LGA by road.
Speaking during the commissioning of the Agbura–Oxbow Lake Road, Osinbajo applauded the governor for executing projects with significant socio-economic impact, noting that the road connects key government infrastructure such as the NCDMB Towers, the Federal Secretariat, and the CBN headquarters in Bayelsa State.
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.
“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, Governor Diri recalled that in 2022 he undertook what he described as a daring journey through the difficult terrain to invite Osinbajo to flag off the road project.
He explained that the construction phase of the project also created employment opportunities for hundreds of youths drawn from surrounding communities.
He added, “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.”
