NDDC Promises To Restore Failed Sections Of East-West Road

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has pledged to restore the failed sections of the East West Road between Ahoada and Ula-Okobo town in Rivers State’s Ahoada West Local Government Area, providing urgent relief to motorists who are now forced to use community roads.
Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the NDDC Managing Director, described the situation as deplorable after inspecting the failed sections of the road with other Commission directors.
In a statement by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director of Corporate Affairs, Ogbuku expressed shock at the level of devastation. He pledged that the NDDC will collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Works to begin remedial action on the road immediately.
Ogbuku emphasised the importance of collaborating with the Ministry of Works, which is currently constructing massive culverts at the sections washed away during the 2022 flood.
The NDDC boss recalled that the Commission had hired SETRACO, a road construction company, to repair the damaged sections of the East West Road after it was flooded in 2022.
Ogbuku promised that the Commission would join and supplement the efforts of the construction company working for the Federal Ministry of Works to repair the failed and impassable section of the road that connects Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta states.
He stated, “As an interventionist agency, we will supplement the efforts of both the federal and state governments by taking measures to alleviate the stress commuters face on a daily basis.”
Engr. Kingsley Oyeama, project manager for the construction company at the site, described the road damage as extensive and massive. He did, however, assure that the company would take all necessary steps to restore traffic to the road as soon as possible.

Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri, President of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC Worldwide, thanked the NDDC for responding quickly to Niger Deltans’ distress calls due to the damaged road.
He urged the Federal Government to prioritise and repair the East-West Road, citing its importance as the only major link between the South-East, South-South, and South-West regions.
A truck driver, one of many others stuck in Okobo, recounted their ordeals while driving on the East-West Road. He stated that, in addition to the numerous accidents that had occurred on the road as a result of poor road conditions, they were frequently trapped in traffic for several hours.
He lamented that the East-West Road had become a nightmare for motorists and passengers.