Senator Dickson Attends Commissioning Of Ogbia-Nembe Rd, Commends NDDC, SHELL

The Former Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, His Excellency, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, attended the official commissioning of the Ogbia-Nembe road at Opume Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The Former Governor and Senator made this known through his official facebook handle, described the road project as one of the most important roads linking communities in the Eastern Senatorial District of the State, which was a partnership road project between NDDC and SHELL.

Despite the fact that the road was not a state project, but due to the importance of the road to the people, Senator Dickson stated that as then Governor, he held over ten formal meetings with the partners (NDDC and SHELL), leaders and youths of the communities, including security agencies to resolve lingering issues.

Senator Dickson stated that his several meetings with all the parties involved, streamlined all the issues in dispute that stalled the road project years before he became governor, after which he gave matching orders for the commencement and completion of the road project.

“When I was told that because of the unresolved issues, there was no agreement to pay the contractor to meet the deadline that I had set for them, my administration supplied the three billion naira that the contractor requested to take the road to Nembe, which I handed over the money to the contractor in the presence of kings and leaders of the senatorial district and the general public, he added.

Senator Dickson congratulated the NDDC and SHELL for the partnership to ensure the completion of the road project while calling for more partnerships and collaborations on big ticket projects in the state, called on NDDC, SHELL, AGIP, AITEO and the Federal Government to support the State Government in delivering major projects like this in the state.

He said with the road completion, the state government is on track by commencing the Nembe-Brass road which is an important road not to be left for the state government alone, adding that the federal government should activate partnership with NDDC, SHELL, AGIP and AITEO to support the state government in taking the road to Brass LGA.

While congratulating all the partners for the completion of the road, Senator Dickson commended the state government, community leaders, youth leaders and security agencies for maintaining peace during the very difficult phases of the construction of the road to completion for the use of the public.

The statement reads: “Today, it was a pleasure to have attended the official commissioning of the Ogbia/Nembe Road. It is public knowledge that the Road Project is one of the most important roads linking communities in the Eastern Senatorial District and it was a partnership between SHELL and NDDC. As a result of its importance, my administration took a lot of interest in it even though it was not originally a State project.

“I held over ten formal meetings with the partners Shell and NDDC, leaders of communities, youths and also security agencies, where we were able to streamline all the issues in dispute that stalled this project years before I became governor after which I gave matching orders for the project to be accomplished.

“When I was told that because of the squabbles and unresolved issues, there was no agreement to pay the contractor to meet the deadline that I had set for them, my administration supplied the three billion naira that the contractor requested to take the road to Nembe. I handed over the draft of three billion naira to the contractor in the presence of kings and leaders of the district and the general public.

“So today, it was a pleasure to have been there even though the road has been in use since. In my remarks, I congratulated the NDDC and SHELL for the partnership and called for more of such collaborations and partnerships on big ticket projects in the State like this road. I call on all, NDDC, SHELL, AGIP, AITEO, the Federal Government and other development agencies to support the State government in driving partnerships like this on all major projects.

“With this road completed, the State government is on track by commencing the next phase which is Nembe to Brass but that road is too important to be left for the state government alone. The federal government must activate their partnership with the NNPC,SPDC, NDDC, AGIP and AITEO to support the state government in taking this road to Brass.

“Similarly, the Central road construction project which my administration started from Ikule Creek Bridge to Aguobiri which the current administration has taken to Angiama and working on the Bridge to Oporoma should not be left alone for the state government but there should be partnership to support them to advance the road to Oporoma and beyond to Ukubie and Kolo-ama which was my administration’s initial plan.

“In the Western Front, we toiled in a recession despite the treacherous terrain to commence the road to Ekeremor. I also call for partnership on that road. Now that a finishing touch has been put to the road, the state government should not be left alone to advance the road to Agge. Our partners SHELL, NDDC, AGIP, and all the companies working in that area should support the state government with the federal ministry to ensure that they partner on that Ekeremor-Agge road to open up our state to our maritime resources. As I have said always the wealth of the state is in the sea and I am happy that we are making progress steadily.

“I congratulate all the partners, the State and our people. I commend the communities, the Youths and Security agencies that were very helpful during the very difficult phases of the construction of this road.

25th May, 2024.