Indigenes of Afikpo North Local Government Area (LGA) especially those living at Ndibe axis of the environment have lamented delay in the commencement of the bridge connecting the area to cross River state.
Team of Engineers from the construction company handling the project had in February, 2024 visited the site at the instancce of the Federal Ministry of Works in preparation to commence work on the project.
Leader of the Team, Sam Liu, during the site tour disclosed that his company had concluded arrangements with the Federal Ministry of Works on the construction of the Bridge and the roads from Amuro roundabout, Afikpo to the beach and promised to deliver the project in accordance with contractual agreement and job specifications for the benefit of end users.
However, work is yet to commence at the site.
Governor Francis Nwifuru while receiving the people of Afikpo LGA during a Christmas homage in his Oferekpe Agbaja hometown, Izzi LGA, urged them to support the federal government’s initiative of constructing a bridge across Ndibe Beach in the area to link Ebonyi with Cross River state.
The governor further drummed support for President Bola Tinubu’s infrastructural development across the nation and urged Ebonyi people to always support and pray for his predecessor and Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi to actualise the bridge and its connecting roads which he maintained would boost commercial activities across the zones.
He maintained that the federal government”s takeover of the bridge project as an adjoining part of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway, one of the legacy projects of Tinubu’s administration, was enough reason to throw support on the Minister and the administration of President Tinubu.
Strengthening his resolve to continue to advance road constructions and other infrastructural provisions across the state, the governor warned contractors given jobs in the state to justify the confidence reposed in them by being diligent, dedicated and responsible in the execution of the contracts.
The visitors which cut across party lines included National Assembly members from Afikpo, traditional rulers, past and present government appointees, Youths and women, among other groups were led in the visit by the Afikpo local government area Chairman, Timothy Nwachi.
Meanwhile, residents in the state have expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in commencement of work at the site, calling on federal government to march its words with action.
Some indigenes of Ndibe area of Afikpo, Nnamdi Okocha and Beatrice Uroh, who spoke to Blueprint correspondent on phone confirmed that no work is ongoing at the site, adding that there are no equipment indicating readiness to commence work.
Okocha said: “As of now, there’s no work going on there, unless they just started.
“May be I will have to recheck but I’m sure that nothing is currently going on there. The government has wetted our appetite, and it won’t speak good if they fail to march their words with action.”