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By Joel Anekwe
The senator representing Rivers South East senatorial district, Barry Mpigi on Monday led some members of the House of Representatives from the senatorial district to protest the dilapidated state of some sections of the East West road, especially the Eleme Junction to Onne axis.
The legislators gathered at the Akpajo Bridge in Eleme Local Government Area which state of disrepair had been a source of serious fears and concern to motorists and residents.
Among the protesting federal lawmakers were Kingsley Chinda (Obio Akpo), Dumnamene Dekor (Khana/Gokana), Awaji-Inombek Abiante (Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro), the member representing Tai–Oyigbo–Eleme as well as Igwe Aforji, who is the member representing Eleme in the Rivers State Assembly.
Mpigi said: “We are appalled at the terrible situation of this bridge. Almost everything Nigeria survives on lives with us here. You have the refinery, petrochemical industry, fuel depot, the oil and gas free zone, Navy school, among others.
“But see what is happening here at the bridge. We are being abandoned. This is a federal road, not Rivers government’s. The bridge, as vehicles pass through, is shaking. Any moment from now, it will collapse totally and lives in these areas will be cut off from the rest of this country.
“We must ask, are we really part of Nigeria or not? This contract has been awarded for a long time to RCC. The Vice President has been here. Ministry of Niger Delta has taken dimensions. Up till now, just to release the budget and execute, we are rather being abandoned,” he said.
Mpigi added: “It’s like we in Rivers State have been abandoned, this is not a state government road, it’s a federal government road. As we speak, passing through this bridge, you would understand that any moment from now, this bridge could collapse if not urgently addressed. And that means that the total lives of this area will be cut off.”
He said the protest became necessary to keep Nigerians abreast of efforts by lawmakers in ensuring that the plight of road users and the national economy was adequately protected.
“The essence of our being here this morning is in protest to let Nigerians know that this contract had been awarded for a long time, the vice president had been here, even the NDDC had taken the dimension of the bridge. But till date, the contract had yet to be executed, we are aware that this job was awarded to a construction company, RCC.
“I think over N2 billion was initially disbursed for the Akwa Ibom/Ogoni axis but the contract value between Ogoni down to Eleme Junction axis is yet unknown to us,” Mpigi said.
Also speaking, Kingsley Chinda, lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency said that the economic benefits of the bridge could not be over emphasized as it traversed Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers and other national economic hubs.
“In the National Assembly, those of us from Rivers have protested over the treatment of our people particularly concerning this bridge and the East West Road. We found that there is graveyard silence when it comes to issues concerning Rivers.
“That is why having brought motion on the floor of the NASS, members of the NASS have supported that the Executive arm should quickly ensure that this bridge is taken care of to forestall loss of lives. The Executive is not sensitive to the NASS resolutions.
“That is why we are now taking it to court of public opinion, to tell the people that we have been calling on the Executive to take action on the road. We pray and hope this will sensitise them to action. This is the beginning of the action of Rivers NASS members. If no action is taken, we will take further steps.”
Hon Dekor said, “As former Rivers Works commissioner, I can tell you that this bridge will not survive the next three months if no intervention is made. All past palliatives have come from the state government. Federal government is frustrating the state.”
“Federal government has not been responding to agitations on this bridge. Just recently the current Rivers government wanted to carry out repairs on the bridge. Immediately NDDC appeared and said it is federal road. After stopping the state, NDDC is not forthcoming to fix it.”
Some of the placards flown by the protesting lawmaker read, ‘Rivers is part of Nigeria,’ ‘Ministry of Niger Delta, where is our East West Road,’ ‘Akpajo-Eleme Bridge leads to backbone of Nigeria’s economy,’ ‘Akpajo-Eleme Bridge collapse imminent,’ among others.
Also reacting, Igwe Aforji, the lawmaker, representing Eleme State Constituency said that the state government on its part had tried to no avail to synergize with key stakeholders on the project.
“The governor had earlier through the permanent secretary, state ministry of Works ordered to ascertain the level of damage and provide palliatives for the collapsing bridge.
“But two days into that intervention process the NDDC came in and halted the process stating that the road is a federal project.
“We are here to call on the Federal Government and the NDDC to swing into action and save this bridge from complete collapse,” Aforji said.
