Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has described the reconstruction of a 15.4-kilometre failed section of the Benin-Sapele Expressway by the Niger Delta Development Commission as a major intervention that will ease movement and boost economic activities in the state.
Oborevwori stated this on Friday at the flag-off of the reconstruction project at Amukpe Roundabout, Sapele, Delta State.
The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, said the project demonstrated the importance of collaboration among government agencies in addressing the infrastructure challenges facing the Niger Delta.
Aniagwu said the state government had also intervened on federal roads because the people using the roads were Deltans, regardless of which level of government was responsible for them.
“We don’t differentiate. What matters to us is that our people are suffering and we have the responsibility to intervene,” Aniagwu said.
He said the state government had spent more than N300bn on federal road corridors across Delta State to improve their condition and reduce the hardship faced by motorists.
Aniagwu listed the construction of more than five kilometres of rigid-pavement dual carriageway along the Warri axis and the construction of bridges and flyovers on federal corridors among the state’s interventions.
He mentioned projects at Otovwodo Junction, DSC Roundabout, PTI Junction, Enerhen Roundabout and Uromi Junction in Agbor.
The commissioner welcomed the NDDC’s intervention on the Benin-Sapele Expressway, saying its completion would improve transportation and support economic activities in Delta and other states along the East-West corridor.
He appealed to residents and other stakeholders to cooperate with the contractors to ensure the project was completed on schedule.
Aniagwu also warned residents against vandalising public infrastructure, citing the recent discovery of damaged components on the First Niger Bridge.
He said the removal of critical components from bridges could weaken their structural integrity and put motorists at risk.
‘We will complete Benin-Sapele road’
The Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Chiedu Ebie, said the commission began the reconstruction following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to address the hardship faced by motorists on the road.
Ebie said the NDDC was determined to complete the project and restore normal movement along the corridor.
He disclosed that two contractors would work from opposite ends of the project to accelerate its completion.
“The President saw the plight of our people and directed that something must be done. We are here today to commence the reconstruction, and we are determined to deliver this project,” Ebie said.
He described the Benin-Sapele Expressway as a major economic corridor linking the South-South with other parts of Nigeria.
Ebie also disclosed that the NDDC had commenced steps to terminate and re-award the contract for the Abraka-Obiaruku-Abavo-Agbor Road following challenges encountered with the previous contractor.
The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, apologised to residents, community leaders and motorists for the hardship caused by the deplorable condition of the road.
Ogbuku said the intervention followed a presidential directive after Tinubu saw videos and received complaints about the condition of the highway.
He said the commission worked with the Federal Ministry of Works, obtained the project design and secured approval for the site to be handed over to the NDDC for immediate intervention.
“We apologise to our people for the pains they have gone through. We know what this road means to the people, and we are here to ensure that relief comes to them,” Ogbuku said.
He said the strategic importance of the road made its reconstruction necessary, noting that the route served as a major link between the South-West, North and the South-South.
The NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Victor Antai, said the reconstruction would cover approximately 15.4 kilometres.
He said the road would be reconstructed with rigid concrete pavement to improve its durability.
Antai disclosed that China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and Ronin and Fan Limited had been engaged to execute the project.
He said the use of concrete pavement was expected to provide a more durable road and reduce the frequency of repairs.
The Delta State representative on the NDDC Governing Board, Monday Igbuya, commended the commission for approving the reconstruction of the highway.
Igbuya, however, appealed to the commission to extend its intervention to the Amukpe-Abraka-Agbor Road and the Sapele-Warri Road.
He said fixing the roads would further improve connectivity and economic activities across Delta State.
In their goodwill messages, Senator Ede Dafinone and Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu commended President Tinubu and the NDDC for the intervention.
They urged the commission and contractors to ensure that the project was completed to specification and within the expected timeframe.
