Delta intervenes in failed portion of Warri/Sapele/Benin road

Delta State Government has expressed concern over the failed portion of the Warri/Benin road and has set aside N19.1 billion to complete Sector ‘A’ of the Ughelli/Asaba road dualisation project.

The Commissioner for Works, Chief James Auguoye, during an inspection tour of the dualisation project, told newsmen that CCECC Nigeria Limited was handling the Sector ‘A’ at the sum of N19.1 billion.

Augoye said that the inspection visit was to assess the state of the federal roads and intervene to alleviate the suffering of those using the road.

He lamented that the Warri/Sapele/Benin road had gone beyond palliative or rehabilitation, but in need of total reconstruction.

“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has directed us to visit and assess the roads to see how the state government can intervene,” he explained.

According to Augoye, who was with the Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, the necessary documentations were being done in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works to commence with the intervention on Warri-Sapele road.

Aniagwu said the state government’s intervention was to alleviate the suffering of Deltans and other road users.

He said, “The state government is pained by what Nigerians are passing through on these roads and we are disturbed because what is happening here is affecting the economy of the state and that of the nation.

“So, we are going to start work in earnest. But we plead with the Federal Government to assist us in taking care of these federal roads because the intervention is eating into the pocket of the state.”

Meanwhile, some motorists who spoke to newsmen during the inspection tour called on the government to quickly come to their rescue by rehabilitating the failed portion of the Warri/Sapele/Benin, particularly at Okuovo in Okpe Council of Delta State.

Chief Samson Omomadia commended the Delta Government for intervening in the 149km Ughelli/Asaba dual carriageway, adding that the road was in a deplorable condition before the intervention.