President Jokowi Review Infrastructure In Nias To Open Isolation

President Joko Widodo continued his working visit in North Sumatra Province by reviewing the infrastructure of the Nias Ring National Road and the Idano Sibolou Bridge in West Nias Regency (ANTARA/HO-Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau/Kris)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reviewed the infrastructure of the Nias Ring National Road and the Idano Sibolou Bridge in West Nias Regency, North Sumatra, after reviewing the infrastructure in North Nias Regency.

According to a statement from the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 6, the construction of connectivity infrastructure on Nias Island aims to open up the isolation of the western and northern regions of Nias and reduce extreme poverty.

Several districts on Nias Island are designated as underdeveloped areas according to Presidential Regulation Number 63 of 2020 and are also classified as areas with extreme poverty.

To accelerate the elimination of extreme poverty, the government then issued Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 4 of 2022 concerning the Acceleration of the Elimination of Extreme Poverty. This infrastructure development is one of the efforts of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) to support this.

While reviewing infrastructure in West Nias, President Jokowi received an explanation from the Head of the North Sumatra National Road Implementation Center, Brawijaya.

According to Brawijaya, his party will build a 24-kilometer-long road in 2023. The road is part of the Nias Ring Road which connects cities and regencies on Nias Island.

"In addition, we will also carry out handling from Gunungsitoli City to West Nias, Lahomi to Sirombu. This is actually a provincial road, bleaching", he said.

Meanwhile, the Idano Sibolou Bridge which has a length of 50 meters has been completed in 2021. The bridge was built with a budget of IDR 13.74 billion.

Meanwhile, in North Nias Regency, the President reviewed the project to improve the structure of the Laehuwa-Ombolata-Tumula-Faekhuna'a road.

The work to improve the structure of the Laehuwa-Ombulata-Tumula-Faekhuna'a road in 2022 is carried out with a budget of IDR 32.36 billion. This section is a fin road that connects the West Ring and East Ring of Nias, from North Nias to Gunung Sitoli City on Nias Island.

The President hopes that the improvement of the road structure can increase economic growth on Nias Island so that regional commodities such as coconut and fish can compete in the market. In addition, according to the President, road construction will also have an impact on tourism on Nias Island.

"This includes tourism because it is very good here for surfing (surfing) and is in great demand", said the President.