NDDC Disputes Reports of Bridge Collapse in Bayelsa

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has refuted reports circulating on social media that a bridge project under construction in Otuogori community, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, had collapsed. According to a report by Vanguard News, the commission stated that an incident occurred at the construction site of the 600-metre Otuogori-Otuegwe Bridge, but insisted that the bridge, which is part of the ongoing infrastructure development in Bayelsa, did not collapse. The NDDC has not provided details of the incident, but the commission’s spokesperson, Charles Odili, said that the agency is committed to completing the project and ensuring the safety of the community. This is not the first time the NDDC has been at the centre of controversy over its construction projects in the Niger Delta region. Last year, a bridge in Akwa Ibom State collapsed during construction, leading to the death of several workers. The incident sparked protests and calls for the commission’s leadership to be held accountable. The commission has not said when the facility began operating, and it remains unclear if the incident at the Otuogori-Otuegwe Bridge construction site will impact the completion of the project. The commission’s denial of the bridge collapse report comes as Bayelsa State prepares for the 2027 general elections.