Bayelsa ill-Fated Bridge: Comm, NASS Member Finger SPDC, NCDMB

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

• Elebele community Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa have attributed neglect by shell petroleum Development Company, SPDC of provision and maintenance of infrastructural projects sited in their community as cause of the recent collapse of the bridge linking their community with Yenagoa, the state capital and other adjoining communities.

The Ogbia speaking community made these revelation Tuesday when the member representing Ogbia federal constituency, Hon. Fred Obua paid them sympathy visit to ascertain the extent of havoc wrecked by the collapsed infrastructure.

Speaking to newsmen, the paramount ruler of the community, His Royal Highness, Osene, Osene represented by the deputy paramount ruler, His Highness, Isaac Johnny lamented the difficulties the collapsed structure has caused the community and commuters plying the road, describing it as worrisome.

Osene said the community which plays host to the multinational oil company has nothing to show for after many years, emphasizing that if shell had carried out satisfactory and holistic routine maintenance, the bridge would not have collapsed, stressing that the structure was constructed in 1986 and as such needed regular checks which would have averted the sudden damage.

Meanwhile, Obua has promised calling the attention of the federal government to the plight of the oil producing community.
The lawmaker maintained that the ill-fated bridge had not only served the people of the community, but the entire three local government areas in the Eastern senatorial district of the state.

Obua while reiterating his commitment to bringing soccour to the community called on the multinational company operating in the area and the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC to kick-start the process of reconstructing a new bridge to link the community with their sister communities as to fast track development in the area.

Speaking against the back drop that the immediate cause of the collapse may not be unconnected to over loading by heavy vehicles, the lawmaker accused the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB for being the cause of the collapse, harping that information made available to him indicates that the truck hauling construction materials which propelled the collapse was from a contracting firm with the NCDMB earlier billed to move chippings from a yet to identify location to their ongoing fabrication site at Otuoke, Ogbia local government area of the state.

While effort at hearing from the Nigerian Content office yielded no result as at press time, information at our disposal reveals that though no casualty was recorded the driver of the contracting truck (name withheld) is still hospitalized just as the deputy paramount ruler of community and other pedestrians on the bridge escaped by whiskers.

It would recall that a steel bridge constructed by SPDC since 1986 at Elebele community in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State Collapsed during the week.