Reconstruction of the collapsed Uzere-Asabase bridge in Isoko South Local Government Area by the Delta State Government is to commence soon.
The Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly and member representing Isoko South 2 Constituency in the House, Hon Ferguson Onwo, disclosed this on Thursday during an on-the-spot assessment of the collapsed bridge and its effect on the locality.
Hon Onwo said Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who he described as a promise keeper, is concern about the sad development and has directed immediate actions to remedy the situation.
Accompanied by his colleague for Isoko South One, Hon Ovuakpoye Evivie, the Chairman, Isoko South Local Government, Sir Victor Asasa and some officials of the Delta State Ministry of Works, Hon Onwo said communities using the bridge must be reconnected to each other.
He attributed his delayed visit to the collapsed bridge to the training programme embarked upon by members of the state legislature which took him and his colleagues out of the state.
He assured the people of Uzere, Asabase and Aviara communities that efforts would be made to ensure that reconstruction work on the bridge does not only commenced in earnest but was speedily executed.
The Majority Leader who doubles as the Chairman, House Committee on Information, expressed appreciation to Governor Okowa for directing immediate actions on the collapsed bridge to ameliorate the negative impact on the people.
Onwo also commended the people directly affected by the collapsed bridge for their patience, saying that the inconveniences caused by the natural disaster would soon be over.
The Majority Leader used the opportunity to call on agencies and other development partners to come to the aid of the communities as government alone cannot address all challenges faced by the people.
Also speaking, the Member Representing Isoko South 1, Hon Ovuopkoye Evivie, expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost to the incident, even as he sympathized with the people.
Hon Evivie said there was the need to rebuild the bridge for easy assess to goods and services in the affected communities, maintaining that the major occupation in the locality is farming and that they must transport their produce.
The lawmaker who is the Chairman, House Committee on Power and Energy, called on the Isokos to sustain their support for PDP led government in the state and the visionary leadership of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in order to attract more development to the area.
The Isoko South Local Government Council Boss, Sir Victor Asasa, commended the state Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for coming to the aide of the people as well as Hon Ferguson Onwu and Ovuokpoye Evivie for the inspection, adding that the visit has brought hope to the affected communities.
He drew the lawmaker’s attention to Otor bridge at Irri-Aviara road which he said is being threatened by erosion due to the high water tide and appealed for the intervention of the State government to avoid collapse.
Some others present during the inspection visit also thanked the two IsokoSouth representatives in the State Assembly for their determination to ensuring that the collapsed bridge was reconstructed without much delay.