Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said the delivery of legacy projects by his administration will give the All Progressives Congress an advantage in the forthcoming general elections.

Fubara said APC candidates would be able to campaign on the projects delivered by his administration, particularly at the grassroots.

The governor spoke on Wednesday while inaugurating the 14.5-kilometre Agba-Ndele Road and a 239.4-metre bridge linking communities in Emohua and Abua/Odual Local Government Areas of the state.

An aerial view of the Agba-Ndele Bridge Project. Photo credit: Rivers state

He said the projects, alongside other recently inaugurated infrastructure, would serve as evidence of the APC administration’s performance and make it easier for its candidates to connect with voters.

“I believe that what we have done here today will make it easy for our candidate that will be representing us in the forthcoming elections.

“When he comes here to campaign, more especially in Emohua, he will tell them my party did this, and my party did that. So it will be easy for us to win election here,” Fubara said.

The governor said the road and bridge were part of his administration’s efforts to extend development to rural communities and address challenges faced by residents using the old Abua Road.

He said the intervention was necessary because of the poor condition of the old road and the long hours commuters spent travelling along the route.

Fubara said his administration was focused on projects capable of improving the lives of residents rather than merely executing projects for their own sake.

“Like I’ll always say, I’m not interested in just doing anything; I’m interested in doing something that can add value and change the life of our people,” he said.

He added that the project would ease difficulties faced by residents of Abua and neighbouring communities.

“I can beat my chest this afternoon to say, the value of this project cannot be overrated. It is something that had come at the right time, when our people from Abua, our people from this other side of Ahaoda are having difficulties on the old Abua road. So with this project, I think that part of the problems they are having there will be solved,” Fubara said.

The governor disclosed that the bridge project was initiated by an earlier administration but said he considered its completion important because of its benefits to the people.

He described governance as a relay in which successive administrations should continue projects that would benefit the public, irrespective of who started them.

“When you see something that will benefit the people, it doesn’t matter who started it. What is important is you complete it and put it to use,” he said.

Fubara urged the chairmen of Emohua and Abua/Odual LGAs, Chidi Lloyd and Owolobi Michael Ofori, respectively, to take responsibility for protecting government projects within their jurisdictions.

He also appealed to residents, youth groups and traditional rulers in Agba-Ndele and neighbouring communities to protect the road and bridge from vandalism.

The Commissioner for Works, Prof. Temple Nwofor, said the road measured 14.5 kilometres, with a 10.3-metre binder-course width, a 7.3-metre wearing-course width and three-metre shoulders.

He added that the drainage section measured 0.6 metres by 0.6 metres.

Nwofor said the bridge measured 239.4 metres, with a width of 10.3 metres, including 1.5-metre walkways on both sides, while the project also included a 1.2-kilometre access road.