Rep Dumnamene Deekor urges President Tinubu to retain the original East West Road design, warning against removing flyovers key to Ogoni’s economy and peace
East West Road design must be preserved in its original form to ensure economic continuity and regional peace in Ogoniland, a federal lawmaker has warned.
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Dumnamene Deekor, who represents Khana and Gokana Federal Constituency in Rivers State, made this appeal at the National Assembly in Abuja on Monday.
Deekor raised alarm over what he described as “troubling indications” that the Federal Ministry of Works may be excluding key structural features from the project.
Among these, he said, are three major flyovers at critical junctions—Onne Trailer Park, Refinery Junction, and Agbajo Junction in Eleme—where piling has already been completed.
He stated that any deviation from the approved East West Road design would cause prolonged gridlock and undermine President Tinubu’s good intentions for the Niger Delta.
He explained that the road connects seven local governments in Rivers State and stretches into Akwa Ibom and Cross River, forming one of the most heavily trafficked commercial routes after the Apapa corridor in Lagos.
According to Deekor, the road is vital not only for commuters but also for industries such as the Ocean Terminal, the Free Trade Zone, and the Notore Fertiliser Company.
He emphasised that altering the layout would hurt businesses, delay haulage, and frustrate local development.
“It is baffling that a 15km stretch of such strategic importance is being segmented without full adherence to the original design,” Deekor said.
“If the ministry proceeds with these alterations, Mr President’s well-intended directive will be defeated.”
He also criticised comments made by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, who dismissed objections from Ogoni stakeholders as coming from “faceless individuals.”
Responding, Deekor said, “I’m here with a face, and I speak on behalf of my people. You cannot claim a road is completed and then return days later to lay asphalt.”
Beyond infrastructure, Deekor praised President Tinubu for honouring the legacy of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni environmentalists during the June 12 Democracy Day celebrations.
He commended the President’s recent assent to the bill establishing the Federal University of Environment, calling it a transformative step for the Niger Delta.
He appealed for further recognition of the “Ogoni Four,” victims of the environmental justice struggle, to deepen reconciliation and secure lasting peace in the region.
“If these remaining injustices are addressed, I strongly believe that the era of unrest in Ogoniland will become history,” he said.
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With pressure mounting to maintain the original East West Road design, Deekor’s remarks have reignited debate over infrastructure equity and regional justice in Nigeria’s oil-rich south.
