Oborevwori Praises NDDC as Work Begins on 15.4km Benin-Sapele Highway

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has welcomed the Niger Delta Development Commission’s intervention on the Benin-Sapele Expressway, describing the reconstruction of the failed 15.4-kilometre stretch as a major relief for motorists and communities along the busy route.

The project was formally flagged off on Friday at the Amukpe Roundabout in Sapele.

Oborevwori, who was represented by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, said the project showed what could be achieved when government institutions worked together to address pressing infrastructure challenges.

Aniagwu said the Delta State Government had continued to intervene on federal roads within the state because the people using the roads were Deltans, regardless of which tier of government was responsible for them.

“We don’t differentiate,” he said, noting that the state had spent more than N300 billion on interventions along federal road corridors to make travel easier and reduce the burden on motorists.

He listed some of the projects undertaken by the state government on federal routes, including more than five kilometres of rigid-pavement dual carriageway in the Warri axis, as well as bridges and flyovers at Otovwodo Junction, DSC Roundabout, PTI Junction, Enerhen Roundabout and Uromi Junction in Agbor.

Aniagwu said the NDDC’s intervention on the Benin-Sapele corridor would improve movement, support commercial activities and benefit communities in Delta and other parts of the Niger Delta when completed.

He appealed to residents and stakeholders to cooperate with the contractors and allow them to carry out the work without unnecessary disruption.

The commissioner also warned against the vandalism of public infrastructure, referring to concerns over damaged components discovered on the First Niger Bridge.

He said tampering with vital parts of such infrastructure could weaken the structure and put the lives of road users at risk.

Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Chiedu Ebie, said the commission moved to reconstruct the road following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to address the difficulties faced by motorists on the corridor.

He said the commission was committed to delivering the project and bringing an end to the long delays and difficult journeys experienced by commuters.

To speed up construction, Ebie said two contractors would work simultaneously from different sections of the project.

He described the Benin-Sapele Expressway as an important route for the movement of people and goods, linking the South-South with other parts of the country.

Ebie also disclosed that the NDDC had begun moves to terminate and re-award the contract for the Abraka-Obiaruku-Abavo-Agbor Road following difficulties associated with the previous contractor.

NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, apologised to communities, traditional leaders and commuters over the hardship caused by the poor state of the Benin-Sapele road.

“Relief is on the way,” Ogbuku assured residents, saying the intervention followed President Tinubu’s directive after videos and complaints highlighting the condition of the road reached the Presidency.

He said the commission subsequently engaged the Federal Ministry of Works, obtained the necessary project design and secured approval to take over the affected section for immediate reconstruction.

According to him, the importance of the highway to interstate travel and commerce made urgent intervention unavoidable.

Providing details of the project, NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Engr. Victor Antai, said the 15.4-kilometre reconstruction would be carried out with rigid concrete pavement.

He named China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and Ronin and Fan Limited as the contractors handling the project.

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

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