The Niger Delta Development Commission has commenced the reconstruction of a 15.4-kilometre section of the Benin-Sapele Expressway, offering relief to motorists and communities that have endured years of poor road conditions.
The intervention began at the Amukpe Roundabout in Sapele, Delta State, following a directive from President Bola Tinubu for urgent action on the deteriorating road.
NDDC Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku, said the commission had mobilised two construction companies to handle the project simultaneously from opposite ends in a bid to speed up completion.
He said the agency understood the difficulties faced by motorists and residents using the corridor, noting that the condition of the road had caused prolonged traffic delays and increased the cost of transporting goods.
The project covers the failed sections between Benin, Ologbo Junction and Sapele, including the Ajomata, Ibada-Elume, Amukpe and Oghara areas.
Ogbuku said the NDDC had worked with the Federal Ministry of Works to obtain the road design and secure the necessary approval before taking over the reconstruction.
He explained that the commission’s approach was intended to ensure that work progressed quickly and that the road was rebuilt in line with its original specifications.
The Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Chiedu Ebie, described the project as a response to the hardship experienced by road users over the years.
He said the commission was committed to completing the work within the shortest possible period, while urging residents and other stakeholders to support the contractors.
The road has long served as an important route connecting communities in the Niger Delta with other parts of the country. Its deteriorated condition has disrupted the movement of people, agricultural produce and other goods, while also creating security concerns for travellers.
Delta State Government also welcomed the intervention. Commissioner for Works, Rural Roads and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, who represented Governor Sheriff Oborevwori at the flag-off, said repairing the road would improve transportation and economic activities across the state.
Aniagwu disclosed that the state government had spent more than N300 billion intervening in federal roads within Delta State, stressing that residents remained the ultimate beneficiaries regardless of which level of government owned the roads.
Governor Oborevwori also said Delta State had approved N35.7 billion for the reconstruction of the Warri-Sapele-Benin Road as part of efforts to provide a lasting solution to the area’s infrastructure challenges.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, had earlier joined the Edo State Government and the NDDC in inspecting deteriorated sections of roads across Edo and Delta states following the presidential directive.
The NDDC said the current reconstruction is expected to ease traffic, improve the movement of goods and people, reduce transportation costs and strengthen economic activity along the Benin-Sapele corridor.
With construction now underway, the commission has promised to complete the project as quickly as possible and restore smoother movement along the strategic route.
