By Celestine OkehCommissioner for border peace and conflict resolution, Dr Donatus Ilang, on Saturday inspected the progress of remedial work he initiated at Ofe bridge in Enyibichiri Community, Ilwo Local Government Area of the state.
Ilang, during the inspection said, his motive to embark on remedial work on the bridge was to avert the hardship the people be subject to, as rainy season is about setting in, stressing that if nothing is done to the bridge many adjoining Communities will be denied freedom of movement, hence his decision to do the remedial work pending when the main concrete construction will be done on the bridge and the adjoining road.
The commissoner who is from the community said,
"This ofe bridge in Enyibichiri within the Ojon market is an important bridge to the people of Enyibichiri. It is very cardinal because it is at the center of Enyibichiri. It links Obegu, Ebishike, Nwida market, Echara and other parts of Enyibichiri, down to Cross-River. And as you must have seen, I believe that our dear Governor will still come to complete the road, but as it is now, the bridge is highly dilapidated and you know, it's iron constructed bridge, so if we leave this bridge the way it is, you know the rainy season is fast approaching and if it is left that way, there's every tendency that our people will be caught off. Movement will be restricted. People coming from, or going to cross River and other adjoining Communities will be restricted and that's why I deemed it necessary to compliment the effort of His Excellency to do this remedial work to ensure that the iron bridge is put to proper way so that our people can use it pending when concrete bridge will be constructed".
Dr Ilang expressed optimism that the main bridge will be constructed in due time considering the governor's commitment in providing dividend of Democracy to the people of state, which Enyibichiri is not in exception..
"You can see that this road is half constructed during the last administration. I know His Excellency, our dear Governor, a beacon of peace, a man who has come to transform Ebonyi state and I know, Enyibichiri is not in exception. When Deputy Governor came for a function here in Enyibichiri, she made some comments about the road and the bridge. Certainly the Government of our dear Governor will definitely come to put an end to the yearning for concrete bridge by the people of Enyibichiri in Ilwo Local Government Area. You can see some chippings here, this was what our local government chairman did when said he want to construct the bridge, but certainly, we're not preempting him, what we're doing is remedial, and certainly, I know Government is one, and because of the importance of this road to bridge as well, I know, Government which we're part of, will definitely do something to ensure that both the road and bridge is constructed", he concluded.
Recall that the Ofe bridge was constructed in the colonial era as gateway to Cross River state and other adjoining areas, but successive administrations both at state and local levels neglected to construct the bridge despite it's strategic and economic importance.
People of the area however, expressed hope in the current administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru, which is anchored on the people's charter of needs, that the long neglected bridge will be constructed.
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