Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has described the ongoing construction of the 13.52-kilometre Ngo-Atlantic-Oyorokoto Road as a bold and visionary effort by his administration to open up the coastal region for economic growth and harness the full potential of the state’s blue economy.
The governor made this remark on Tuesday during an inspection visit to the project site in Andoni Local Government Area.
The road, being constructed by Monier Construction Company (MCC), cuts through challenging coastal terrain and leads to a newly identified beachfront facing the Atlantic Ocean.
Gov. Fubara explained that while the original plan was to construct a road leading to Oyorokoto Town and its popular beach, his administration decided to expand the project to create an entirely new route that would open access to another pristine beachfront.
“We are doing another inspection today. This particular one is a virgin road, 13.52 kilometres of a new pathway to the blue economy,” Gov. Fubara stated.
“Initially, we were constructing a road to Oyorokoto Beach, one of the finest tourist centres in this area. But, as we progressed, we discovered another beach directly facing the Atlantic Ocean.
“It became clear that we shouldn’t limit development to just one site. We want to harness this new beachfront as part of our broader plan to develop the blue economy.”
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The governor emphasised that the project, once completed, will not only improve access to coastal communities but also stimulate tourism and economic activities, boosting revenue for the state.
Describing the area’s difficult terrain as challenging, he commended the contractor for its dedication and expressed confidence that the road would be completed and commissioned by March next year.
“You can see for yourself, it’s a brand-new road in a very difficult terrain, just like the one we saw yesterday. But I strongly believe we will overcome it.
“From what we’ve seen today, the contractor, MCC, is doing its best, and by next year, hopefully by March, we’ll have the cause to commission this project and give God all the glory,” the governor affirmed.
Gov. Fubara also visited Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area to assess the progress of work on the Epellema axis of the ongoing 5.2km Kalaibiama-Epellema Road project featuring a 450-meter bridge.
