Tinubu to commission Niger Delta’s longest bridge, Kaa-Ataba, in Rivers State

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to inaugurate the 1.2-kilometre Kaa-Ataba Bridge in Rivers State, connecting Khana and Andoni Local Government Areas, as part of activities marking his third anniversary in office, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has confirmed.

The announcement was made by NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, during an inspection of the bridge project by the Commission’s Governing Board, led by Chairman Mr. Chiedu Ebie. The team included the Executive Directors of Projects and Corporate Services, Dr. Victor Antai and Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, among other officials.

Describing the Kaa-Ataba Bridge as one of the NDDC’s most ambitious legacy projects, Ogbuku said it is the longest bridge in the Niger Delta region and one of the longest in Nigeria. He expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to completing all legacy projects under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The President gave us a marching order to make a positive impact in the Niger Delta. The Board and Management are working diligently to meet his expectations,” Ogbuku said.

The NDDC Board Chairman, Mr. Ebie, also praised the project, noting that it demonstrates the Federal Government’s determination to develop the Niger Delta. He assured that the contractor had committed to completing the bridge on schedule and reaffirmed the Commission’s pledge to finish all ongoing projects in the region.

Engineer Christian Emeozor, representing the contracting firm, cited adverse weather as a factor contributing to delays but promised to deploy additional manpower and materials to ensure timely completion.

Traditional rulers in the area, including King Benson Egwenre of Ataba Kingdom and King Benjamin Ledor of Kaa, commended the NDDC for the project, promising to support the contractor to ensure its completion.

During the inspection, the NDDC team also visited the ongoing Niger Delta Regional Hospital in Port Harcourt, which features cardiovascular and orthopaedic units. The hospital is expected to reduce medical tourism by providing advanced healthcare services locally.

“The hospital project demonstrates that our interventions extend beyond roads and bridges. Health is wealth, and the people of the Niger Delta deserve access to state-of-the-art medical facilities,” Dr. Ogbuku said. He added that the hospital would be operated through partnerships with experts in medical facility management and equipped with sophisticated medical technologies.

Project Coordinator Douglas Okafor assured that construction aligns with global best practices to deliver quality outcomes for both the bridge and the hospital.

The Kaa-Ataba Bridge is expected to boost social and economic activities across the Khana and Andoni communities while strengthening connectivity in Rivers State.