The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Federal Ministry of Works and the Edo State Government have commenced an urgent intervention to address failed portions of major highways linking Edo and Delta states.
The intervention followed concerns raised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the deteriorating condition of critical road corridors in Edo State, which have subjected motorists, commuters, businesses and residents to severe hardship.
The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, members of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Works, construction companies and other stakeholders jointly inspected the affected sections of the Benin – Sapele – Warri and Benin – Agbor roads.
The inspection focused on identifying the causes of the delays and inconsistencies in the execution of the concessioned projects and determining immediate measures to restore the strategic highways to safe and motorable conditions.
Speaking during the inspection, Umahi reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to fixing the deteriorating sections of the roads, stressing the need for immediate and sustainable solutions to the challenges along the critical corridors.
He said the intervention was in line with President Tinubu’s directive following complaints about the worsening condition of the roads and the hardship being experienced by road users.
Consequently, the Ministry of Works and the Edo State Government invited the NDDC, major construction companies operating along the Benin – Asaba axis, and other relevant stakeholders to conduct a joint assessment of the failed portions.
Ogbuku said the NDDC had received numerous complaints about the suffering of motorists along the Benin – Sapele corridor and had decided to intervene in addressing the problem.
He disclosed that the Commission had scoped a 15.4-kilometre stretch between Benin, Ologbo Junction and Sapele for rehabilitation.
According to him, the affected section is a strategic road corridor in the Niger Delta, but its deplorable condition had made parts of it virtually unmotorable, resulting in gridlock, prolonged travel time, hardship for commuters and disruption of economic activities.
Ogbuku said the NDDC and the Ministry of Works had agreed to work together to ensure that the remedial works conformed to the original design of the road and were executed to withstand the test of time.
He noted that the NDDC had accepted responsibility for rehabilitating a 15-kilometre section of the Sapele – Benin road as part of efforts to complement the Federal Government’s infrastructure interventions.
He said the Commission remained committed to supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President by implementing strategic infrastructure projects that would improve connectivity, stimulate economic activities and enhance the quality of life of people in the Niger Delta.
Ogbuku stressed that the urgency of the situation required sustained collaboration among the Federal Government, Edo State Government, NDDC, construction companies and other stakeholders to ensure that the necessary interventions were implemented promptly.
Also speaking, Governor Okpebholo commended President Tinubu for responding swiftly to the deteriorating condition of the roads.
He said the intervention would help to quickly arrest the further deterioration of the affected sections and alleviate the hardship being experienced by motorists and residents.
Okpebholo described Edo as a strategically located state whose road network serves as a gateway to the South-South, South-East, South-West and Northern parts of Nigeria.
He therefore stressed that the deplorable condition of the highways should be treated as a national concern, given their importance to the movement of people, goods and services across several regions of the country.
The joint intervention is expected to ease traffic congestion, improve road safety and restore economic activities along the Benin – Sapele – Warri and Benin – Agbor corridors.
