Rivers: Vice President Kashim Shettima announced that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is actively distributing infrastructure and economic opportunities throughout the country to mitigate congestion, generate employment, and foster balanced national development.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Vice President Shettima made these remarks on Thursday during the inauguration of the 33.5-kilometre Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Akpabu-Ikiri-Omoku Dual Carriageway in Rivers State. This project, launched on behalf of President Tinubu, traverses the Ikwerre, Emohua, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas, connecting pivotal agricultural, commercial, and oil and gas corridors leading towards Omoku, known as the state’s Gas City.
Shettima emphasized that state-driven projects align with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s aims to extend security, welfare, and economic opportunities beyond central regions. He explained that congestion in a nation often results from the concentration of opportunities, leading people to migrate due to inadequate access to roads, markets, jobs, and essential services.
The Vice President highlighted the importance of roads as fundamental tools for development, facilitating connections between farmers and markets, workers and jobs, students and schools, and patients and healthcare services. He noted that the new road would enhance the efficiency of agricultural produce transport, reduce losses, lower business logistics costs, and stimulate economic activity in the communities along its path.
Shettima applauded Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State for completing the road project, which he described as consistent with the Renewed Hope Agenda and indicative of Federal Government backing for state-led investments. He stressed the importance of governance continuity, where each administration builds upon the foundations laid by its predecessor, ultimately benefiting the populace.
He further called on local communities to safeguard the newly inaugurated infrastructure against vandalism and misuse, ensuring its longevity. Governor Fubara affirmed that the road, inclusive of a river-crossing bridge, would bolster security and alleviate the hardships faced by residents in the three local government areas. He expressed optimism that the completed road would deter criminal activities, such as kidnappings and oil bunkering, that had previously plagued the corridor.
The Governor extended his gratitude to President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for their steadfast support, expressing a renewed sense of belonging and national unity. Commissioner for Works, Prof. Temple Nwofor, and Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Dr Chidi Lloyd, echoed these sentiments, underscoring the project’s significance in enhancing connectivity, mobility, and economic activities while addressing societal challenges.