The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has said it would soon resume work on the abandoned Borokiri-Okrika Road in Rivers State.

The road, if completed, would significantly impact the community by connecting Okrika Island to Port Harcourt, potentially boosting local trade, reducing travel time, and improving access to services for residents of Okrika.

The 3.65-kilometre Okrika-Borokiri Road with three bridges, which was started in 2012, but was later abandoned, will help connect Kolabi, Abotoru and Okpoka creeks to Port Harcourt.

Addressing stakeholders at an interactive forum in Port Harcourt yesterday, NDDC’s executive director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, called on the benefitting communities to cooperate with the contractor handling the project.

Iyaye said, “For us in the Commission, we believe that this project must be completed. This project was started by other successive administrations of the NDDC sometime in 2012; mobilization paid and job started. But, unfortunately, the project was stalled for so many years.

“By the special grace of God, upon the coming of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, this project is now part and parcel of the 2024 NDDC budget. Therefore, now is time to commence. Now is the right time to start this project.

“So, we felt that we cannot just reinstate this project and then tomorrow, the real owners of the project will see contractors on site without speaking to them. That is why we organised this interactive forum. So that you will be aware that this project is coming back and give the contractor the necessary cooperation to make sure that this project is completed in record time.”

The interactive forum was attended by traditional rulers, representatives of women and youth groups as well as community development committees from Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Port Harcourt City local government areas of Rivers State.