The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Yenagoa Branch, has said roads and bridges being constructed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) could significantly drive economic growth across the Niger Delta by connecting rural communities to major markets and improving the movement of people and goods.
Key Highlights
- NSE says NDDC road and bridge projects could boost economic growth across the Niger Delta.
- Ogbia-Nembe Road is expected to improve connectivity between communities in Bayelsa State.
- NSE identifies roads linking Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia as key economic corridors.
- Better roads could support agriculture, fisheries, commerce, oil and gas activities.
- Engineers warn that proper construction and maintenance are critical to protecting investments.
- NSE commends NDDC Managing Director Samuel Ogbuku for prioritising road and bridge development.
The chairman of the NSE Yenagoa Branch, Eluanatein Mac Jokori, stated this on Thursday while speaking with the 51 For 51: Ogbuku Impact Series team, led by Okaniba Damson, during an assessment of major NDDC infrastructure projects across the Niger Delta.
Jokori said the impact of infrastructure should be measured beyond construction costs and physical length, stressing that the real value lies in the communities connected and the economic opportunities created.
He identified the Ogbia-Nembe Road, Yenegwe-Ogbia Road rehabilitation, Emeyal-Elebele Road and Otuasega-Obedum-Emelego Road as major projects capable of improving transportation and commercial activities in Bayelsa State and neighbouring areas.
According to him, improved road networks would enable farmers, fishermen, traders and other residents to move goods more efficiently from rural production centres to larger markets.
“The value of such projects should be measured not only by their length or cost, but by the communities they connect and the economic activities they make possible,” Jokori said.
NDDC Roads Face Niger Delta Engineering Challenges
Jokori explained that road construction in the Niger Delta presents unique engineering challenges because of the region’s wetlands, creeks, rivers, soft soil and high water tables.
He cited the 25.7-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road as an example, noting that the project includes seven bridges and 9.15 kilometres of prefabricated vertical drains designed to improve the stability of the swampy terrain.
He said completed sections of the road had created a direct land route between communities in Ogbia and Nembe and improved access to Yenagoa for residents of the Nembe axis.
The engineer also highlighted the approximately 23.5-kilometre Otuasega-Obedum-Emelego Road and its bridges, which connect communities in Bayelsa and Rivers states.
He said the corridor, alongside the Oruma rigid pavement road in Ogbia Local Government Area, could facilitate the movement of agricultural products from rural communities to urban markets.
NDDC Infrastructure Projects Expand Regional Connectivity
According to Jokori, similar NDDC road and bridge projects across other Niger Delta states are helping to address transportation difficulties that have affected communities for years.
In Akwa Ibom State, he identified the approximately 6.87-kilometre Iko-Atabrikang-Opolom-Iwuo Achang Road and the 600-metre Ibeno Bridge as notable interventions.
He said the projects had connected communities previously separated by the Qua Iboe River and could improve access to schools, healthcare centres, markets and other essential facilities.
Jokori also cited the nine-kilometre Obehie-Oke-Ikpe Road in Abia State and the 9.4-kilometre Ogu Community Road Network in Rivers State as projects capable of strengthening connectivity across the region.
He noted that the Ogu project, commissioned in January 2026, consists of concrete roads and drainage infrastructure.
NSE Urges NDDC to Prioritise Maintenance
While highlighting the economic importance of the projects, Jokori stressed that their long-term value would depend on construction quality and sustained maintenance.
He urged the NDDC and other stakeholders to prioritise proper foundation treatment, effective drainage systems, appropriate pavement designs and regular maintenance, particularly in communities vulnerable to flooding.
“The Niger Delta presents unusual challenges for road construction, with extensive wetlands, creeks, rivers, soft soil and high water tables requiring specialised engineering solutions,” he said.
Jokori said the deployment of prefabricated vertical drains on the Ogbia-Nembe Road demonstrated the importance of specialised engineering techniques in stabilising weak and compressible swamp soils.
He warned that the ultimate test of the projects would come after completion, when their ability to withstand the region’s difficult environmental conditions would determine the value of the investments.
“The ultimate assessment of these projects should be based on their performance after completion. Proper maintenance will be essential to preserving the investments and ensuring that the roads continue to serve the communities for which they were built,” he said.
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NDDC Roads Could Boost Agriculture, Fisheries and Commerce
The NSE chairman said improved road infrastructure could have a broad economic impact across the Niger Delta, where agriculture, fisheries, oil and gas, commerce and transportation remain major economic activities.
He explained that better connectivity could reduce transportation challenges and make it easier for people and goods to move between production centres and commercial hubs.
Jokori commended the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, for placing road and bridge development among the commission’s priorities, describing improved connectivity as an important foundation for sustainable economic development in the Niger Delta.
