Vice President Kashim Shettima has described infrastructure development as a means of creating and distributing opportunities across Nigeria, stressing that a country becomes congested when economic opportunities are concentrated in limited areas.
Shettima made the remarks while commissioning the 33.5-kilometre Elele-Egbeda-Omoku dual carriageway in Rivers State.
The road connects Ikwerre, Emohua and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Areas and includes a 99-metre bridge designed to improve connectivity, transportation and economic activities across the benefiting communities.
The project was awarded in March 2024 with a completion period of 24 months.
Shettima said every infrastructure project creates opportunities for citizens, adding that government has a responsibility to ensure those opportunities are distributed across the country.
“When a road works, society works,” the Vice President said.
He described the completion of the project as evidence that government is a continuum and that successive administrations should build on existing achievements.
Shettima said President Bola Tinubu was pleased with the completion of the road and the opportunities it would create for residents of Rivers State.
Representing the President at the commissioning, the Vice President also commended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for committing public resources to the project.
He described the investment as consistent with the Federal Government’s commitment to deploying public resources towards improving the welfare of citizens and developing society.
Speaking at the ceremony, Fubara said the presence of the Vice President reaffirmed that Rivers State remained an integral part of Nigeria.
The governor said he had been emotional throughout the programme, explaining that he had previously felt the state was being treated as though it was not part of the country.
Fubara said the completed road would also contribute to improving security in the area, noting that its previously poor condition had made the corridor vulnerable to kidnapping and oil bunkering activities.
He described the project as another fulfilled promise of his administration and said its completion gave him a sense of happiness and fulfilment despite the challenges his government had encountered.
According to the governor, one of the most important achievements of his administration would be leaving behind visible projects that demonstrate its commitment to the people of Rivers State.
Fubara also said the completion of the road would strengthen his party’s campaign efforts because of its expected impact on the lives and economic activities of residents in the affected communities.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Works, Prof. Temple Nwofor, described the project as another demonstration of the state government’s commitment to providing durable road infrastructure.
Nwofor said the road would connect communities, ease transportation and contribute to the growth of the state’s economy.
The 33.5-kilometre Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road, together with its 99-metre bridge, is expected to strengthen the connection between the three local government areas and improve the movement of people, goods and services across the communities.
