FG Reaffirms Commitment to Finish East-West Road Quickly

Engr. David Umahi

The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has announced the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to completing the East-West Road project in order to unlock the full economic potentials of communities in the South South geo-political zone.

Umahi made the announcement while on an on the spot assessment of the project sites at the sites at section II: Kaiama- Ahoada in Rivers/ Bayelsa State.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media), Orji Uchenna Orji, in Abuja, yesterday.

The Minister explained that the President Bola Tinubu-led Renewed Hope administration remains committed to giving all regions the  requisite environment  to attain their full economic potentials and guarantee a sense of self actualization through the provision of long lasting infrastructure especially roads.

According to him, President Tinubu has introduced a more formidable measure of construction to end pavement failures  and years of  infrastructural  neglect on the East West Road.

Umahi project  sites at East West Road section II: Kaiama- Ahoada in Rivers/ Bayelsa States; the construction  of Multiple  Box Culverts at flood damaged locations along  the dualization  of East West Road handled by Messrs Rock Results Nigeria  Ltd and the dualization  of East West Road, Section II ( sub section II) handled  by SETRACO Nigeria  Ltd dated 22nd July 2024.

Speaking shortly after the inspection of work progress, the minister said that Federal Government  redesigned the inherited ongoing project, using reinforced concrete technology to end the perennial pavement failures and years of road  neglect across  the wetland Niger Delta.

He said some sections of the East-West Road starting  from from Lokoja to Benin were also rescoped and redesigned in reinforced concrete, and that the height  of the road was increased above the flood level, and that the redesign factored the peculiar  environment, geomorphology and soil characteristics which were responsible  for the failures of flexible pavement used over the years by successive administrations.

On the Kaiama-Ahoada section, Umahi said, “When we came on board, the job was already awarded by the past administration. And so the only new thing in all these locations under President Tinubu is the relief culverts that these two local contractors are putting, and are proving themselves to be of a very high reputation in terms of their works.

“We are encouraging many more local contractors to come and work, because there’s so much to work.”

He observed  that  the impact of climate change  was largely  responsible  for the flood that came over the two sections of the road but commended the two contractors handling the relief culverts for their deep commitment to the intervention work despite having not been paid.

He further said, “…And so our directive is that the contractor shouldn’t open more relief culverts. Let us contain the floods by working with NDDC. And I commend the MD of NDDC for the fantastic work they are doing.”

He  expressed gratitude to Rock Results, who also did emergency works, even though it’s outside the scope and the 29 Battalion with other paramilitary  outfits for the management of the traffic which he said would  continue for the next two to four weeks.

While appealing for patience  on the side of the road users, he assured that permanent solution was underway  as the project was being procured to raise the road above the flood level while reinforced concrete of 12 inches would be used to do the overlay.

The  minister who also visited  the KM 15 Section 3A of the East- West road (from Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction) handled  by Messrs  RCC  Nigeria  Ltd, commended  the quality  of work being  done but urged the contractor to re-mobilize at least in 6 sections of the project to ensure timely  project  delivery or be prepared  to relinquish  the other carriageway for award to another  contractor.

Umahi said, “It is Presidential order that this road should be given the maximum attention, and that’s why he asked me to come and look at it, and then give him a report. So we’re looking at December for project delivery, but certainly not at the pace that RCC is going.”

While reacting  to the statement credited to a Clergy, Buba Isa on the state of some federal roads, the Honourable Minister reiterated the  commitment of the Renewed Hope administration  in fixing  all the inherited  ongoing  projects and backlogs of road infrastructure deficits nationwide orchestrated by  many years of neglect.

While commdending  President Tinubu for the glaring deference in road infrastructure under his administration which road users are attesting to, he called for patience  and understanding as enduring  solution to  road failures  had been reinvented  by the administration and very soon Nigerians would enjoy sustainable infrastructure delivery.