Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Petroleum Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, has condemned the slow pace of work by Reynolds Construction Company, RCC, on the Eleme section of the East-West Road, describing it as a major obstacle to the effective distribution of petroleum products from the rehabilitated Port Harcourt Refinery.
Speaking on the issue, PETROAN’s National President, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, accused RCC of sabotaging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to improve the nation’s petroleum supply chain, and reiterated the association’s demand for immediate action on the East West road.
Gillis-Harry in a statement signed by PETROAN’s National Public Relations Officer, Dr Joseph Obele, emphasized the critical role of the Eleme East-West Road, which serves as a key route for transporting petroleum products.
PETROAN warned that thousands of petroleum trucks expected to transport products from the Port Harcourt Refinery would face significant risks if the road remains in its current state.
He said, “RCC’s slow pace of work is undermining the president’s commitment to ensuring the seamless distribution of petroleum products. This is despite RCC receiving N33 billion from the Federal Ministry of Works for the project.
“Thousands of petroleum trucks will be using this road to convey products from the Port Harcourt Refinery. Any further delay is detrimental to the nation’s economy and safety,” he said.
PETROAN revealed that the construction work is adversely affecting about 60 retail outlets in the area and called for compensation for the affected filling station owners.
“The slow construction is negatively impacting these businesses. Adequate compensation must be provided to the owners who are bearing the brunt of these delays,” the association said in a statement.
The association recalled that the Minister of Works, David Umahi, had previously criticized RCC’s approach to the project, noting the company’s sluggishness, and issued a seven-day ultimatum for RCC to speed up the work.
“The deplorable condition of the road poses significant risks to petroleum trucks, which could lead to catastrophic accidents and environmental disasters. The safety of this critical route cannot be overstated,” he said.
PETROAN called on President Tinubu to review RCC’s contract and ensure compliance with agreed timelines. “We urge the president to evaluate the ongoing contract with RCC in line with the timeline to consolidate his renewed hope agenda,” Dr. Gillis-Harry added.
The association also appealed to the Minister of Works to fast-track the contract evaluation and take decisive action to address the challenges. “We call on the Honourable Minister to expedite this process and ensure that RCC delivers on its commitments without further delays,” the statement concluded.
