President Bola Tinubu has directed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to commence the reconstruction of the Warri-Sapele-Benin section of the East-West Road in Delta State.
The NDDC Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku, was quoted as saying this in a report published by The Guardian Newspaper on Saturday. The report said Mr Ogbuku stated this during an inspection of the road, following persistent complaints about the deteriorating condition of the major highway.
However, the newspaper did not specify when the inspection took place.
Tinubu’s Directive
Mr Ogbuku said the directive followed an inspection of the Benin-Agbor and Benin-Warri corridors by the Minister of Works, David Umahi.
“We are here because Mr President gave a directive to the NDDC to work on the road,” he said.
He explained that the commission had obtained the project design from the Ministry of Works and was set to commence reconstruction.
Mr Ogbuku also apologised to residents and motorists affected by the poor condition of the road, assuring them that the NDDC would work to address the situation.
According to the report by The Guardian, two contractors are expected to handle the reconstruction project.
Sapele Cut Off
The Delta representative on the NDDC board, Monday Igbuya, said the deplorable state of the road had effectively isolated Sapele from Warri and other parts of Delta State.
He appealed to the commission to extend its intervention to other failed roads in the area, including the Eku Road, which he said had made movement difficult for residents and students.
Umahi’s 14-Day Ultimatum
The development comes after Mr Umahi gave CCECC a 14-day ultimatum to repair severely damaged portions of the Benin-Asaba Highway.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Umahi stated this during an inspection of the road. He ordered the contractor to urgently restore damaged sections, including portions around Ubulu-Okiti and Onicha-Ugbo.
The directive followed reports of severe traffic congestion and prolonged delays along the highway.
Some motorists and passengers reportedly spent days on the road as a result of the deteriorating sections, underscoring the scale of the transportation crisis in the area.
Major Transport Corridor
The Warri-Sapele-Benin and Benin-Asaba corridors are important routes for the movement of people, agricultural produce and commercial goods between Edo, Delta and other parts of southern Nigeria.
The NDDC intervention is therefore expected to improve connectivity and reduce the hardships faced by commuters and businesses using the routes.
The Guardian reported that the reconstruction of the Warri-Sapele-Benin section followed a presidential directive to the NDDC.
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