The Benefits of Nembe-Brass Road
Solomon-Olali-Igabo writes The Benefits of Nembe-Brass Road
Historically, when Bayelsa State was created on the 1st of October, 1996 by Late General Sani Abacha as Military Head of State with just eight (8) Local Government Areas as against the constitutional criteria.
Yenagoa the Capital City was more of a glorified village with Mbiama-Yenagoa Road (now Melford Okilo Road) as the only existing road at the time. The state capital was only accessible to Ogbia town, Sagbama and Kaiama respectively while Nembe, Oporoma, Twon-Brass and Ekeremor among others were accessed by water or air.
Successive, Military Administrators and civilian, governors have come and gone but the political will to connect the headquarters of the eight local government areas by road was not taken seriously.
Today, the narrative has changed as Nembe town, the headquarter of Nembe Local Government Area is connected by road. The 27km Ogbia-Nembe road was a joint project of NDDC/SHELL but was stalled until the intervention of Chief Henry Seriake Dickson as the governor of the State having voted in two billion (N2 Billion) to the contractor SETRACO to ensure the completion of the Ogbia-Nembe road in 2017.
Interestingly, the Ogbia-Nembe Road has been formally commissioned early January 2024 by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) under the able leadership of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Chief (Dr.) Samuel Ogbuku.
The people of Nembe can freely drive on road instead of travelling on water spending hours before getting to their destination coupled with reported cases of sea piracy or attacks on daily basis. This has become history.
Evidently, the present governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri as divinely programmed, inherited the Sagbama-Ekeremor and Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie roads among others are at advanced stages of completion is quite commendable and should be encouraged by all.
Happily, the Nembe-Brass Road project was initiated and started by Governor Douye Diri which was flagged off during his first tenure in 2020. The road is becoming a reality which traverses Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas hosting top soil giant companies such as Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), AITEO/Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) among others.
Economically, there are three means of transportation which include air, land and water. The importance of land transportation cannot be overemphasized.
In fact, Governor Douye Diri with his prosperity mantra has not disappointed the people of Bayelsa State following the capital intensive and people oriented projects he is embarking upon such as the Nembe-Brass road, and Yenagoa-Anyama-Okodi road are product of Governor Douye Diri and when completed would accelerate economic activities as well as opening up the hinterlands.
The economic benefits of these road are enormous. The cost of land transportation is far lesser than marine transportation, reduces time and stress. The frequent boat mishaps and sea piracy (attacks) would be curtailed and minimized. It will reduce rural-urban migration and attract volume of economic activities as well as goods and services in subsidized prices.
For instance, the Fertilizer Gas Plant, Brass LNG, The White-man Graves, Brass AGIP terminal, Akassa Sea Port, the single largest oil field in Africa at Nembe Creek, marine (sea) foods and other resources are abound on the Nembe-Brass road.
Vehicular transportation will be increased as heavy duty pay loaders will apply the road on daily basis while new job opportunities will also be created for the rural dwellers. Farmers and fishermen and women will be busy on the road to eke out their living.
Therefore, it is the prayer of the people of Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas that Governor Douye Diri should ensure the completion of this important road in his second tenure in order to write his name in gold in the heart of the people of the two sisters’ Local Government Areas. With the completion of the road the security will be improved and promptly at every emergency distress.
It is most unfortunate that those who said the Nembe Brass Road is not economically viable shall be proved wrong.
One of the world most notorious leaders recorded in history, Adolphus Hitler once said, “I did not come to make life better but to make use of the weaknesses of others. As evil as this dictator, his statement is however powerful and thought provoking with plausible meaning without contradiction”.
Interestingly, Governor Douye Diri is scaling new height because he has a possibility mindset. As a politician and leader is turning dreams into reality. The enemies of this road shall eat in shame, now that the Nembe-Brass road has advanced to the next stage of completion.
Indeed, the people of Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas would be very grateful to Governor Douye Diri when this important road is being completed under his tenure than giving out his credit to others. Governor Douye Diri would live a generational impact in the politics of Bayelsa State if the road is completed under his watch.
