Abubakar Momoh urges NDDC to accelerate Sapele-Benin Expressway reconstruction, with the contractor projecting completion within three months
The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, has urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to accelerate the reconstruction of damaged sections of the Sapele-Benin Expressway linking Delta and Edo states.
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Momoh made the call during an inspection of the ongoing road reconstruction alongside the NDDC Executive Director of Projects, Dr Victor Antai.
He expressed concern over the deplorable condition of the highway and urged the construction company handling the project to increase the pace of work to improve safety and restore smooth movement for motorists.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
The minister commended the commission for undertaking the reconstruction of approximately 15.4 kilometres of failed sections of the Benin-Sapele Expressway, describing the intervention as important to transportation and economic activities in Edo and Delta states.
He assured that observations made during the inspection would receive attention, adding that relevant agencies and contractors would be encouraged to address identified defects.
Momoh also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, to providing durable road infrastructure and improving transportation along the East-West Road corridor.
Antai said the reconstruction covered about 15.4 kilometres and assured that the commission would accelerate repairs to the damaged sections.
He explained that the road had been impassable in some areas in the preceding two months, causing serious traffic congestion and incidents involving trucks.
“In the past two months, the road was impassable; trucks were falling over, causing lots of gridlock, but with the intervention of NDDC, none of that is happening again,” he said.
Antai added that repairs were being carried out in phases because the highway serves as a major transportation route in the South-South region and could not be closed entirely during construction.
“The damaged sections of the road under repair by NDDC covers 15.4 kilometres, but we are taking the repairs in stages because the road is a major artery in the South-South region. Therefore, we can’t shut down the entire stretch at once,” he said.
The construction firm’s site manager, Engr Michel Isah, said the project was expected to be completed within three months, provided weather conditions remained favourable.
He attributed delays in the work to adverse weather conditions but assured that the contractor would complete the reconstruction within the projected timeframe.
Sections inspected during the minister’s visit included Ibada Elume in Warri-Sapele Local Government Area, Mosogar in Ethiope West Local Government Area and Okwadede in Sapele Local Government Area.
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The project is expected to improve road safety, reduce travel disruption and support the movement of people and goods between Delta and Edo states.
