ABUJA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- A 630-meter landmark bridge constructed by a Chinese firm has been officially commissioned in Nigeria's southern state of Bayelsa, marking a major milestone in connectivity and socio-economic integration in the country's delta region.
Inaugurated by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Friday, the Oporoma Bridge, executed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), spans across the River Nun, a major tributary of the lower Niger River.
The bridge, recognized as a key project under the framework of infrastructure cooperation between China and Nigeria, will provide the first-ever vehicular access to Oporoma, the headquarters of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, after the riverine community had remained inaccessible by road and relied solely on water transportation for over 60 years.
Tinubu, while commissioning the project, described it as "transformative," noting that "the bridge, linking communities, dual carriageways," will create opportunities, jobs, and hope for the West African country.
Locals and community leaders have lauded the project as a "lifeline" that will drastically reduce the cost of moving goods and services, particularly for the oil-producing communities now linked to Yenagoa, the state capital.
A representative of the CCECC said at the commissioning that the Chinese firm will continue to deepen cooperation with Nigeria in infrastructure development and livelihood improvement, contributing to Nigeria's pursuit of higher-quality economic and social growth in the spirit of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith. ■