Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Saturday described the condition of roads across the Niger Delta as "nightmarish," pledging urgent action and new partnerships to ease the burden on motorists.
Speaking at the inauguration of the long-awaited Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Edjeba, an edifice under construction since 2013, Oborevwori urged collaborative efforts between the six Niger Delta states and the NDDC to tackle dilapidated highways.
"We cannot stand by while our people endure these treacherous routes," Oborevwori said.
He singled out the Warri-Sapele-Benin dual carriageway as a critical artery now in perilous shape and announced that his administration had approved N35.7 billion for its reconstruction.
The road links Delta to Bayelsa, Rivers and Cross River states, he stressed.
Therefore, he called for a strategic framework to rehabilitate other federal roads in the region, urging the NDDC to co-fund projects with state governments to achieve faster, more comprehensive repairs.
He commended NDDC Managing Director Dr Samuel Ogbuku for steering the commission toward stability.
"This new office is a mark of institutional stability and renewed purpose," Oborevwori said as he toured the facility.
In his remarks, Minister of Regional Development Abubakar Momoh relayed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to complete all abandoned projects in the Niger Delta.
Momoh implored NDDC staff to uphold non-partisanship and warned local communities against individuals seeking to foment unrest.
"NDDC is not for a clique of people. It’s for all," Momoh said.
Dr Ogbuku described the Delta office as evidence of the commission’s shift "from transactions to transformation."
He announced a partnership with Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) on N650 billion in infrastructure projects and vowed that the NDDC would meet all timelines for delivery.
The inauguration drew a host of dignitaries, including Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, chairman of the Senate committee on NDDC; House committee chairman Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu; Senator Ned Nwoko; and House of Representatives member Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi, among others.
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