…Says Plans To Scale Down Project Scope Will Be Resisted

By Daniel Abia, P/Harcourt

The major mouth-piece of the Ogoni people in Rivers state, KAGOTE, has descended hard on the Minister of Works, Dr. David Umahi for lying to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the construction of the ever busy east/west road project had been completed.

A state house press statement which reflected among other roads that were allegedly said to have been completed and virtually commissioned by President as “misled” by Umahi included the dualisation of East-West Road Section II (Sub Section I) Eleme Junction in Port Harcourt – Ahoada in Rivers State and upgrading of 15km Section of the East-West Road Port Harcourt

(Eleme Junction)-Onne Port Junction.

Reacting to this development, the President of KAGOTE (Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme local government areas), Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Deeyah said as at the evening of Sunday, 1st June 2025, work on only one side of the dual carriageway was ongoing. “The concrete pavement has not covered the entire length of the road. There are four (4) overhead bridges at various stages of piling works. Not one has been completed”.

Hon Deeyah said that “the Honourable Minister of Works misled Mr. President into commissioning a road still under construction. We hereby condemn this act in totality”.

He said it was most surprising that a man who served twice as an elected Governor, also won election to the Senate would be this so deceitful as to lie with a public infrastructure that all eyes can see even the blind can feel. “All those who ply this road know that it is no-where near completion. It is sad and unexpected of a man of this standing in society, moreover a Public Official”.

The KAGOTE President noted that “President Tinubu was misled into believing the project had been completed, whereas work on it, is still on-going”, adding that “anyone in doubt can visit the site and you will confirm that the concrete pavement, which is meant to be the uppermost layer, wearing or surface course on the road, is yet to be completed, while the four overhead bridges are at various stages of piling, let alone be completed”.

He said that the Eleme Section of the East West Road is a dual carriage way and major arterial infrastructural project of the present administration. It is supposed to serve commuters from Akwa lbom State apart from about Eight Local Governments areas of Rivers State, it also serves to evacuate men and materials from the Refineries, the Indorama Petrochemical plant, the Ports and Oil & Gas Free Zone located along this axis.

“Our people believe that the speedy completion of that road will go a long way in assuring our people of the readiness of Government to partner with and develop local infrastructures. It has been in the forefront of our demands for better integration. Coming at a critical time when the Ogoni people have overwhelmingly agreed that the Federal Government should commence oil exploration activities in Ogoniland, which has been on hold for more than thirty years.

“We do hope that the Minister is not deliberately pitching Ogoni people against Mr. President, thereby setting us on a collision course with the present Administration because as a people we will resist any attempt to deny us the full benefit of our sacrifices and contributions to Nation building”.

Deeyah said like other Nigerians, Ogoni people voted massively for Mr. President in the last General Election, and are therefore in support of the activities, projects and programmes of his

Administration.

“We wish to reiterate our sincere appreciation to Mr. President for appointing prominent sons of Ogoni land into various offices of Government, we therefore call on Mr. President to quickly call the Honourable Minister of Works David Umahi to order”.

The KAGOTE President also believes that by his recent action of deliberately misleading Mr. President, the Minister has given credence to concerns in many quarters that he is planning to scale down the scope of the project. “We hereby warn that any attempt to do so, will be strongly resisted by Ogoni people”, he warned.