By Iroyin Yoruba Television
YENAGOA, BAYELSA STATE — OCTOBER 26, 2026
The Bayelsa State Government and Setraco Nigeria Limited have said the first phase of the Nembe–Brass Road project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027, while rejecting social media claims that a bridge under construction along the route had suffered a structural collapse.
The government and contractor made the statements during a site visit on October 25, following online allegations that a bridge column had collapsed. Officials described the claims as false and said construction was continuing according to the project's engineering designs.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Teibowe Moses, said preparations were under way to install beams on the fifth bridge along the road corridor. He explained that construction equipment was already on site and that workers were preparing for the next stage of the operation.
The state government said four bridges had been completed within the first phase, while the fifth was the remaining bridge structure in that phase. The initial section of the road covers approximately 21 kilometres.
Setraco's area manager for Delta and Bayelsa states, Joseph John, also denied reports of cracking in the bridge works and said the contractor remained committed to delivering the project in line with the required standards.
Officials said construction quality was being monitored through checks on materials and adherence to the approved engineering design. However, the statements made during the site visit were assurances from the project authorities; no independent engineering assessment was identified in the available reporting to verify the disputed claims.
The Nembe–Brass Road is intended to improve connections between communities in Bayelsa State, including Brass Local Government Area, where riverine geography can make transportation and access to infrastructure particularly challenging.
A dependable road connection could improve the movement of residents, agricultural produce and commercial goods while reducing reliance on more difficult transport routes. The extent of these benefits will depend on the completed road's condition, accessibility and long-term maintenance.
The project has also attracted public attention because of the allegations circulating online. The government said the claims had created concern and argued that the construction work should be assessed against the approved plans rather than unverified social media reports.
The contractor said there were no funding problems affecting its work and that payments were being released by the state government. The available report did not provide financial records or an independent assessment of the project's funding position.
The first-quarter 2027 target is the latest completion timeline stated by the officials. It should not be interpreted as a guaranteed commissioning date, as the remaining bridge work and other construction activities still have to be completed.
For communities awaiting improved access, the important measures will be the actual completion of the road, the quality of the finished infrastructure and whether the route remains safe and usable over time.
The latest site visit provides the government's response to the allegations and an update on the construction schedule. Independent verification of the bridge's structural condition and continued monitoring of the work remain important as the project advances towards its stated target.