Oborevwori hails NDDC’s reconstruction of Benin-Sapele Highway

SAPELE — Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for commencing the reconstruction of a 15.4-kilometre failed section of the Benin-Sapele Expressway.

Oborevwori described the intervention as a major boost to transportation, economic activities and the wellbeing of residents and motorists who have endured prolonged hardship on the strategic highway.

The governor spoke at the flag-off of the reconstruction project at Amukpe Roundabout, Sapele, where he was represented by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu.

Aniagwu said the intervention demonstrated the importance of collaboration among government agencies in addressing infrastructure challenges across the Niger Delta.

He disclosed that the Delta State Government had also intervened in several federal road corridors because, according to him, the ultimate beneficiaries were Deltans irrespective of the ownership of the roads.

The commissioner said the state had constructed more than five kilometres of rigid-pavement dual carriageway along the Warri axis, while bridges and flyovers had been constructed at several locations, including Otovwodo Junction, DSC Roundabout, PTI Junction, Enerhen Roundabout and Uromi Junction, Agbor.

“We don’t differentiate,” Aniagwu said, adding that the state government had spent more than N300 billion on federal road corridors to make them motorable and reduce hardship for road users.

He said completion of the Benin-Sapele project would improve transportation and stimulate economic activities not only in Delta but across the East-West corridor.

Aniagwu appealed to residents and other stakeholders to cooperate with the contractors to facilitate timely completion of the project.

He also warned against vandalism of critical infrastructure, citing the recent discovery of damaged components on the First Niger Bridge.

Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr Chiedu Ebie, said the reconstruction was being undertaken in response to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to address the hardship caused by the deplorable condition of the road.

Ebie described the Benin-Sapele Expressway as a critical national economic corridor linking the South-South with other parts of the country.

He said two contractors would work from opposite ends of the project to accelerate completion.

The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, apologised to residents, community leaders and commuters for the hardship caused by the failed sections of the road.

Ogbuku said the President became concerned about the condition of the highway after seeing videos and receiving complaints from road users, prompting the NDDC to seek the necessary approvals for immediate intervention.

He said the commission had engaged the Federal Ministry of Works, obtained the project design and secured approval for the site to be handed over for reconstruction.

Giving details of the project, NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Engr. Victor Antai, said the 15.4-kilometre section would be reconstructed with rigid concrete pavement.

He disclosed that China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and Ronin and Fan Limited had been engaged to execute the project.

Earlier, Delta State representative on the NDDC Governing Board, Hon. Monday Igbuya, commended the commission for approving the reconstruction and appealed for similar interventions on the Amukpe—Abraka – Agbor Road and Sapele-Warri Road.

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