By Edeki Igafe

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has mobilised two contractors to reconstruct a 15.4-kilometre failed section of the Benin-Sapele Expressway following a directive by President Bola Tinubu.

The President gave the order following series of complaints on the deplorable states of the road, Mr Chiedu Ebie, the Chairman of NDDC Governing Board said during the flag-off of the road construction on Friday.

The reconstruction project was flagged off at the Amukpe Roundabout on the Benin-Sapele Road.

Ebie said that President Tinubu directed the commission to immediately address the issues.

“We have all suffered the delays by road and everything, so today we are here to deal with 15 km stretch of this alignment,” he said.

Ebie said that the contractors were to work from opposite ends of the project to fast-track its completion.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said that the interventionist agency decided to deploy contractors on the corridor, following series of appeal from residents and road users.

“Mr President heard all your complaints and directed the NDDC to immediately come and intervene.

“The deployment of two contractors is deliberate; they will work from opposite ends of the project to reduce the completion period.

“We want to also assure you that we are willing to complete this project. We do not want to be on this site for too long,” he assured.

Ogbuku described President Tinubu as a listening and caring president, whose administration had strengthened the commission to deliver critical projects across the Niger Delta.

“This is the NDDC of President Tinubu, who is carefully watching what we do, directing everything we do and monitoring all steps. That is why we are also on our toes to ensure that we deliver,” he said.

The managing director said that the economic impacts of the failed road became so great with vehicles conveying goods trapped for weeks in gridlock.

On his part, the NDDC’s Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, said that the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and Ronin and Fan Limited had been engaged to execute the project.

He said that the reconstruction covered approximately 15.4 kilometres, adding that it would be executed with rigid concrete pavement.

Antai assured that the agency would ensure that the project was done according to specification.

On his part, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, who flagged off the reconstruction work, commended the commission for the intervention.

The governor was represented by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu.

Oborevwori described the intervention as a major boost to connectivity, economic activities and the wellbeing of residents in the state and motorists.

He said that the intervention underscored the importance of collaboration among governments and agencies in tackling infrastructure challenges across the Niger Delta.

Oborevwori said that the state government had also intervened in several federal road corridors in the state because the ultimate beneficiaries were the people of Delta.

“The state government has constructed more than five kilometres of rigid-pavement dual carriageway on the Warri axis.

“Bridges and flyovers have also been constructed on federal road corridors, including Otovwodo Junction, DSC Roundabout, PTI Junction and Enerhen Roundabout and Uromi Junction, Agbor,” he said.

Oborevwori described the NDDC intervention on the Benin-Sapele corridor as a welcome development.

He said that when completed, it would ease transportation and contribute to the economic growth of Delta and indeed other states on the East West corridor.

Earlier, the Delta representative on the NDDC Governing Board, Mr Monday Igbuya, commended the commission for approving the reconstruction of the highway.

He said that the intervention should be extended to the Amukpe-Abraka-Agbor Road and the Sapele-Warri Road to further improve connectivity across the state.

In their goodwill messages, Sen. Ede Dafinone and Mrs Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu commended President Tinubu and the NDDC for the intervention.

(NAN)