Sam Ikeotuonye
Lagos — The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has assured that the reconstruction of the failed sections of the Owerri-Port Harcourt Road between Umuapu and Umuagwo in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State will be completed before the rains set in.
The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, gave the assurance while inspecting the ongoing emergency rehabilitation at the boundary between Rivers and Imo states. The NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, and other directors of the Commission accompanied Ogbuku on the project inspection.
Ogbuku expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the NDDC and urging it to urgently restore the failed sections of strategic roads in the Niger Delta region.
The NDDC boss said: “We are restoring the dilapidated sections of regional roads as part of our efforts to give meaning to President Tinubu’s administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
He stated that the road’s deplorable state necessitated emergency measures. He remarked that the NDDC team had earlier in the day inspected the reconstructed Irrua-Ewu-Agbede-Aviele road in Edo State.
According to the Managing Director: “As an interventionist agency, we will continue to complement the efforts of both the Federal and State Governments by taking measures to ease the stress commuters face daily.”
Ogbuku said he was satisfied with the quality of the job and commended the contractor for the milestone achieved so far, urging it to ensure speedy completion of the project.
He said: “We expect steady progress as road users and the affected communities have been supportive and accommodating.”
The lead engineer of the construction firm, Engr. Mohammed Ibrar assured that his construction firm would not compromise on quality as it moves quickly to rehabilitate the road. He explained that the rehabilitation work entails a lot of excavation and refiling with sharp sand.
A commercial bus driver plying the route, Mr. Mark Ibe, thanked the NDDC for its intervention and response to the cries of transporters and commuters who had endured the consequences of the damaged road.
