Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta said the state government has assured the people of Ndokwa West and Ndokwa East Local Government Areas of the state of his administration’s commitment to ensure that the Kwale-Beneku Bridge project would be ready for use in February 2022.

The governor stated this in an interview with newsmen after inspecting the bridge project across Ase River linking the two communities on Friday.

According to him the state government took up the construction of the Bridge because AGIP and other oil companies operating in the area failed in their corporate social  responsibility.

He said that the bridge was of great significance to the government and its people, especially as the area contributed immensely to oil and gas production in Nigeria.

He said that for the critical position of the area to the oil industry, it was the expectation of the state government that oil companies operating in the area should have constructed the bridge over the years.

Okowa noted that the government, however, took the gauntlet to construct the bridge since the oil companies failed to do the needful.

According to him, the Kwale-Beneku Bridge is very significant because it’s going to open up the whole of the other side of the bridge. Unfortunately, for many years, the oil companies have been using this pontoon here and I don’t think it ought to be so.

 “I actually felt that the oil companies, particularly AGIP, should have before now constructed a bridge across this place but since they can’t do it, we cannot ignore our people across this place.

“A lot of oil facilities are on this other side and there is  need to open up access to the place from Ndokwa West to Ndokwa East LGAs because it’s quite important.

“I remember coming on campaign using the pontoon to cross; on one of the occasions when we were trying to cross, some of our people fell into the river and we cannot continue to allow such to happen because the people across matter a lot to us.

“They are part of the state and more so, they are part of the oil and gas producing communities in Nigeria,” Okowa said.

He added:  “I believe that a lot of work has been done but we will follow through with them to ensure that they deliver the work on target.

The governor also attended a reception at Utagba-Uno in honour of Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr. Daniel Ossai.

He restated his commitment to the pact with Ndokwa Neku Union led by retired Brig-Gen. Mike Ndubuisi  to give more attention to the area.(NAN).