The residents of Sabageia in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area and Polaku in Yenagoa Local Government Area are thrilled and delighted following the long-awaited completion of a significant bridge connecting both communities.

This bridge, which had been neglected for many years, is now finished and set for commissioning by the Governor Douye Diri-led administration.

Previously, the people of Sabageia had to endure a two-hour journey via the East-West road to reach Yenagoa.

However, with the completion of the bridge, the commute now takes just fifteen minutes, significantly reducing travel time and costs for commuters accessing the state capital.

Rear Admiral Geoffrey Yanga, a prominent figure in the Ijaw struggle and Paramount Ruler of Sabagrei community, expressed his excitement over the completion of the bridge, emphasizing that the benefits extend beyond just one community to benefit humanity as a whole.

He said:” There is nothing to describe the feeling. I feel the way you are feeling. It is not only the community people that are benefiting from the road. Everybody is benefiting. It is an infrastructural development for humanity not only for Sabagerai people.

“So anything you do don’t be zeroing your mind on a particular community even though there is a greater impact. Let’s not just put our mind on helping a community, you are helping humanity. You are helping everybody.

“The Governor, Douye Diri, has done a fantastic work. It eases our movement in and out of Sabagerai Community and it’s environs.”

Chief Philip Eseri, Compound Chief of Kalama Community, highlighted the importance of the road to the community, noting the significant improvements in transportation time and costs, which have positively impacted their daily lives and economic activities.

He said, “Previously, we were going round from here to East West Road before getting to gate way road, Igbogene. It takes us like two hours to get to Yenagoa, so when this bridge project stopped, we were very much burdened .

“So when they started doing the road again, personally as the landlord chief, I told our youths that the benefits of the road is in the future so right now if you board a Keke here, it will take you straight to Yenagoa and it will take you highest 30.minutes .

“So, it has eased our transport situation, the time and the cost. It has given us a very good lease of life both financially and time factor. Our farm produces now quickly get to the market and Yenagoa faster.

Also speaking, 64 years old Mummy Blessing Isere,, said she was very happy for the road adding that she doesn’t go to Polako first again but goes to Tombia junction form her house to Yenagoa.

She said:”See our park here. It is very close to me. When I enter a vehicle here, they will take me to Tombia Junction, then I will take another vehicle to my daughter’s place. Before now, they will carry me with bike and drop me at Polako and they will pull me through water to the other side before keke will carry me to Tombia Junction. I’m very happy now that my people have got a road that we are taking to get to Yenagoa.”

The Commissioner for Works, Moses Teibowei, praised the Diri administration for transforming the narrative of infrastructural development in Bayelsa State.

He emphasized the importance of the Polako-Sabagriea road and bridge in facilitating easier and faster movement of goods, services, and people within the region.

The Governor’s commitment to completing all ongoing projects before the end of his tenure was also reiterated, underscoring the administration’s dedication to enhancing infrastructure and improving the lives of the people in Bayelsa State.

Know that from Sabagriea to East West Road is about, 21 kilometers.If you have to go Yenagoa from Sabagriea, you have to go through East West Road, you drive 21 kilometers before you get to East West Road. From East West Road, you now drive to Glory Drive Phase 1. That will take you another, say, 10 minutes.

“Then from Glory Drive Phase 1 to Igbogene, Ecumenical Center, will also take you not less than 8 to 10 minutes. Before you drive another 7, 8 minutes on Glory Drive Phase 2, that’s when you will even get to Tombia Roundabout.

But now, from the LNG Junction, it will take you less than five minutes you are in Onopa. And It won’t take you up to 10 minutes from Sabagriea to get to that particular point.

So you can look at the period of time that you have saved in terms of traveling all the way to East West Road to get to Yenagoa. These are some of the things that the Governor saw and said, no, we need.., the State Government to take over this project from NDDC, because it has not been attended to for over 15 years.

The Commissioner whom listed some of the infrastructural projects been executed by the State Government since in office,, said the governor has vowed to.complete all on going projects before he completes his tenure.