CONSTRUCTION giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has commenced immediate remedial works on the collapsed section of the East-West Road at Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Council of Delta State, following the intervention of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Oborevwori, who disclosed his intervention on Thursday, September 1, during Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary celebration in Asaba, attributed the collapse to a natural disaster witnessed in the area a few days earlier.
The construction company swung into action and mobilised to the site to commence reconstruction works on the washed-out section of the inter-state federal highway.
The intervention is expected to restore normal traffic flow and ease the difficulties faced by motorists and commuters along the busy corridor.
According to the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, the governor took the decision in view of the hardship being experienced by motorists, residents, businesses and other road users, following the collapse of the section of the federal highway.
Aniagwu, in a statement on Thursday, in Asaba, stated that although the East-West Road is a federal government-owned infrastructure, Oborevwori was concerned that the sudden collapse of the Agbarho section due to strong erosive force triggered by heavy rains had become a major inconvenience to Deltans and other Nigerians who use the busy corridor.
He explained that the intervention was in line with the administration’s commitment to ensuring that critical infrastructure within the state remained functional, irrespective of whether such infrastructure is under the jurisdiction of the state or Federal Government, adding that the governor’s action underscored the administration’s philosophy that governance should be driven by the immediate needs of the people, rather than bureaucratic boundaries.
The commissioner noted that the East-West Road serves as a major economic artery connecting communities and facilitating the movement of people, agricultural produce, goods and services across the Niger Delta and beyond, and any serious disruption along the corridor could have far-reaching consequences for commuters, transport operators, traders and businesses whose activities depend on the road.
Aniagwu assured road users that the intervention would help alleviate the current difficulties and restore smoother traffic flow along the affected section, assuring that the Oborevwori administration would continue to collaborate with relevant federal government agencies and private-sector partners to address infrastructure challenges capable of undermining economic activities and the wellbeing of residents.
He said the intervention was also consistent with the administration’s broader infrastructure drive under the MORE Agenda, particularly its emphasis on meaningful development and improving the quality of life of Deltans.
He urged motorists and other road users to exercise caution around the affected area while remedial works are being undertaken.
