Tinubu Directs NDDC To Reconstruct Warri-Sapele-Benin Road

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to commence the reconstruction of the Warri-Sapele-Benin section of the East-West Road in Delta State.

The NDDC Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during an inspection of the highway, according to a report by The Guardian.

Ogbuku said the directive followed an inspection of the Benin-Agbor and Benin-Warri corridors by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, amid growing concerns over the deteriorating condition of the major road.

“We are here because Mr President gave a directive to the NDDC to work on the road,” Ogbuku said.

He explained that the commission had obtained the project design from the Ministry of Works and was preparing to commence the reconstruction.

The NDDC boss also apologised to residents and motorists affected by the poor condition of the road, assuring them that the commission would take steps to address the situation.

Two contractors are expected to handle the reconstruction project.

The Delta representative on the NDDC board, Monday Igbuya, said the deplorable state of the road had effectively isolated Sapele from Warri and other parts of the state.

Igbuya also appealed to the commission to extend its intervention to other failed roads in the area, including the Eku Road, which he said had made movement difficult for residents and students.

The development comes days after Umahi issued a 14-day ultimatum to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to repair severely damaged portions of the Benin-Asaba Highway.

During an inspection of the road, the minister ordered the contractor to urgently restore damaged sections around Ubulu-Okiti and Onicha-Ugbo.

The directive followed reports of severe traffic congestion and prolonged delays along the highway, with some motorists and passengers reportedly spending days on the road.

The Warri-Sapele-Benin and Benin-Asaba corridors are key transport routes linking communities and facilitating the movement of people, agricultural produce and commercial goods across Delta, Edo and other parts of southern Nigeria.

The planned reconstruction is expected to improve connectivity, ease traffic congestion and reduce the hardship faced by motorists, commuters and businesses along the affected routes.