The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Yenagoa Branch, has said road and bridge projects being undertaken by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) could significantly stimulate economic activities across the region by connecting rural communities to major markets.
The NSE Chairman, Yenagoa Branch, Eluanatein Mac Jokori, made this known 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 success of the projects should not be measured solely by their financial value or the kilometres of roads constructed, but by the number of communities connected and the economic opportunities created through improved transportation.
He identified the Ogbia-Nembe Road, Yenegwe-Ogbia Road rehabilitation, Emeyal-Elebele Road and Otuasega-Obedum-Emelego Road as key projects capable of transforming transportation and commercial activities in Bayelsa State and neighbouring areas.
According to him, better road connectivity would make it easier for farmers, fishermen, traders and other residents to transport goods from rural production centres to major 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.
He noted that road construction in the Niger Delta posed unique engineering challenges because of the region’s wetlands, creeks, rivers, soft soils and high water tables.
Ogbia-Nembe Road
Jokori said the 25.7-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road illustrated the engineering difficulties involved in developing infrastructure in the region.
The project includes seven bridges and 9.15 kilometres of prefabricated vertical drains designed to stabilise the swampy terrain.
According to him, the road has established a direct land connection between communities in Ogbia and Nembe and improved access to Yenagoa for residents of the Nembe axis.
He also highlighted the approximately 23.5-kilometre Otuasega-Obedum-Emelego Road and bridges linking communities in Bayelsa and Rivers states.
Jokori said the corridor, alongside the Oruma rigid pavement road in Ogbia Local Government Area, could improve the movement of agricultural produce from rural communities to urban centres.
He added that similar infrastructure projects in other Niger Delta states were helping to address longstanding transportation challenges.
Projects Across the Region
In Akwa Ibom State, the NSE chairman cited the approximately 6.87-kilometre Iko-Atabrikang-Opolom-Iwuo Achang Road and the 600-metre Ibeno Bridge as important projects connecting communities previously separated by the Qua Iboe River.
He said the infrastructure could reduce residents’ reliance on difficult water crossings while improving access to schools, healthcare facilities, markets and other economic centres.
Jokori also identified the nine-kilometre Obehie-Oke-Ikpe Road in Abia State and the 9.4-kilometre Ogu Community Road Network in Rivers State as examples of projects capable of strengthening regional and community connectivity.
He noted that the Ogu project, commissioned in January 2026, comprises concrete roads and drainage infrastructure.
NSE Urges Focus on Maintenance
Beyond connectivity, Jokori stressed that the long-term durability of the projects would determine whether they could deliver sustained economic benefits.
He urged the NDDC and other stakeholders to prioritise foundation treatment, drainage, pavement design and regular maintenance, particularly in areas 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 addressing weak and compressible swamp soils when constructing roads in the region.
He stressed that the ultimate assessment of the 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.
The NSE chairman maintained that improved road infrastructure could help reduce transportation costs and strengthen the movement of people and goods, particularly in a region whose economy relies heavily on agriculture, fisheries, oil and gas, commerce and transportation.
He commended the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, for prioritising road and bridge infrastructure, describing improved connectivity as a critical driver of economic development in the Niger Delta.
