The partnership between the Nigerian Navy (NN) and Evomec Global Services Limited (EGSL) that saw to the reconstruction of the collapsed section of the Akiama Bridge was aimed at reducing the suffering of commuters and improve the livelihoods of the people and communities in the area.   

Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Nigerian Navy, Navy Capt. Badamasi Ishaq Yahuza said this on Monday, February 1, 2021 at Akiama, Bonny, while declaring open the road to commuters.

“It’s actually a partnership. We initiated the work and we followed up with all necessary support from EVOMEC. So, it is a collective and collaborative effort. It’s not just the Nigeria Navy.”

“The whole idea is that the people of Bonny Island and particularly Akiama Street, has been suffering for close to a year now. For them to go to their place of work, they need to travel extra miles before they get to their offices, including us.”

“So, it is on towards enhancing the livelihood of people, reducing their suffering, and also living like a community.”

He stated that the project was initiated by the Nigerian Navy and through a partnership with Evomec was now a reality, pointing that the opening of the road to commuters would go a long way in easing their suffering and improve their wellbeing.  

“When I came, I realized it is something we can actually do. So, we initiated the processes, got our partners, did our own part of the support, which EVOMEC was readily available and willing to partner with us to do this job.”

“We are all Nigerians, so, any part of Nigeria that people are suffering, we need to help ourselves and improve our wellbeing.”

The Navy chief praised Evomec Global Services Limited (EGSL) for a job well done, urging the people of Bonny LGA to accord them the support they need to continue their value addition trajectory in the island.

“We have done our own part, EVOMEC have done their own part. So, I will plead with the good people of Bonny to support Evomec, in particular, as a company that is working on the island.”

Navy Capt. Yahuza assured that the Nigerian Navy would continue to provide the needed security in the area to ensure that people could go about their normal activities, appealing for support for the security agencies in Bonny LGA for them to discharge their duties effectively.  

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“So, whatever measures they can use to make their work easy while we are also providing the necessary security of the island, we need support from the host community. So it’s a collective effort.”

The Akiama Road was closed to traffic on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 by the Works Department of the Bonny Local Government Council, thus subjecting commuters utilizing the route to untold suffering as they had to make a detour through Aye Road behind the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny, to get to their offices.