By Jacob Onuha Nelson
The Governor of Eastern Equatoria Sate, Louis Lobong Lojore, has inspected Ngarich river and vowed to construct bridge in Budi County.
In a statement issued on office of the governor press unit on Monday, the statement stated that the governor paid a courtesy visit to Ngarich River locally called Fraksika that has cut off Chukudum town from other major towns in the state.
According to the statement, the governor said that the bridge is in critical infrastructure needed to be constructed in order to allow access of essential services to both towns.
“The river has long hindered the people of Budi County from accessing essential services,” it partly read.
It emphasized that the river had been hindering the people of Budi County, revealing that the purpose of inspection was to meet and carry out the work with Peter Atem, Managing Director of Rhino Star Construction Company and with president Salva Kiir Mayardit approval and the National minister of Roads and Bridges.
According to the statement, the state government is working hard to find solutions to construct bridges connecting Budi and Chukudum.
“The State Government is determined to find ways of constructing this bridge using the little resources available so that the people of Budi, especially those in Chukudum, can access vital services,” the Governor said in a statement.
In previous attempt to build bridge, Lobong appealed to residents to support the initiative to contribute resources toward realization of the bridge’s constructions.
In response, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), assured that construction will commence as dry season approach, saying, transporting materials currently hard due to poor condition of access to road.
It further emphasized that he needs community support and contribution to facilitate the timely completion of bridge. Adding that with state government maintenance of peace and stability has enabled the company to work with other infrastructure projects like rehabilitation of the Torit – Kapoeta road without fear or disruption.
However, the country suffers from a lack of trained professionals, difficulty obtaining materials and severe rainy seasons that restrict the use of bridges.