Benin-Sapele-Effurun Road: Dafinone hails Tinubu, NDDC, Oborevwori for rehabilitation push

Senator Ede Dafinone, representing the Delta Central Senatorial District, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and the Delta State Government for the prompt intervention to rehabilitate failed sections of the Benin-Sapele-Effurun Expressway.

Dafinone spoke after joining representatives of the Delta State Government, the NDDC, led by its Chairman, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, PhD, as well as other stakeholders at Amukpe Roundabout, Sapele, for the flag-off of the emergency intervention and rehabilitation of failed sections of the critical highway.

He described the intervention as “a welcome and timely development” that would ease the difficulties faced by motorists, commuters, businesses and communities along the corridor.

“I want to particularly commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Management of Niger Delta Development Commission and our working Governor of Delta State for the prompt response to the cries of our people, and for taking decisive steps to rehabilitate Benin-Sapele-Effurun road, a very vital road that connects the Niger Delta region,” Dafinone said.

“This is clear evidence that our sustained engagement with the Federal Government, its agencies and the executive arm of government is yielding tangible results.”

The senator said his approach, alongside other representatives of the people, had been to pursue constructive engagement with government rather than turning every intervention into a public spectacle.

“As your Senator and representatives of our people, we deliberately chose the path of critical and constructive engagement because our primary responsibility is to get things done. We do not believe that every intervention must be turned into a public spectacle. Sometimes, quiet, persistent and purposeful engagement produces better results than media engagement, much more so when we are one government,” he said.

Dafinone recalled that the deplorable condition of the road had attracted significant public and media attention in recent weeks, stressing that the NDDC had demonstrated its capacity to respond swiftly to critical infrastructure needs in the Niger Delta.

“You will recall that the deplorable condition of the Benin-Sapele-Effurun road attracted significant public and media attention in recent weeks. The NDDC, as an interventionist agency established to address critical infrastructure challenges in the Niger Delta, has shown it can respond quickly when there is a compelling need for intervention,” he said.

He particularly commended the speed with which the NDDC moved from inspection to intervention, noting that its team inspected the affected sections earlier in the week and returned days later for the flag-off.

“The NDDC team inspected the affected sections of the road from Benin through Sapele to Effurun on Tuesday, and by Friday they were already here to flag off the rehabilitation. That speed of response is commendable and demonstrates what can be achieved when government agencies, political leaders and representatives of the people work together,” Dafinone stated.

According to him, the absence of public agitation over the matter should not be mistaken for inactivity, and sustained engagement has been taking place behind the scenes to secure government action.

“Though this is coming now, I have been working—engaging the relevant authorities, applying pressure and pushing for concrete action. I believe results, not rhetoric, should define our efforts, and today, those results are speaking for themselves,” he said.

The senator also commended the Delta State Government for contributing to the collective effort to address the road’s deplorable condition.

“I, therefore, commend the Delta State Government for pulling the necessary strings and adding their voices to our interventions. This has become a collective push, and that is the way to achieve meaningful results for our people,” he said.

Dafinone expressed satisfaction that the rehabilitation would comprehensively cover the failed Ajomata/Ibada–Elume–Amukpe–Oghara section, with contractors commencing work from both ends.

“Our goals may not have been met, but I am particularly pleased that the intervention, which covers 15km of the worst portions of Ajomata/Ibada–Elume–Amukpe–Oghara, is being targeted; our people need more. There are so many more failed sections of Federal roads in Delta Central, and I will continue to push and press the necessary buttons.

“This intervention is being approached comprehensively, with contractors starting from both ends, ensuring that no section of the Benin-Sapele-Effurun corridor is left behind while another is being attended to. My concern is not about who takes the credit; my concern is that the road is fixed and our people get relief.

The lawmaker said he looked forward to the timely completion of the rehabilitation, noting that the project would significantly improve transport, connectivity and economic activity along the corridor.

“I look forward to the timely completion of the rehabilitation and, most importantly, to the relief and improved connectivity it will bring to our people,” Dafinone added.