Demands cost of governor’s ordered emergency repairs

By Egufe Yafugborhi

ASABA — Civil society leader, Rev. David Ugolor, has urged Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to engage the Federal Government and neighbouring Edo State to end decades of temporary repairs on the collapsed Benin–Sapele–Warri Road and commit to its full reconstruction.

In an open letter to the governor published in the July 2026 edition of his accountability advocacy report, The Common Good Letter, Ugolor said palliative repairs on the Oghara–Mosogar section of the road, though commendable, would not end the hardship faced by commuters.

He made the call on Thursday while commending Governor Oborevwori for ordering immediate repairs after the failed Oghara–Mosogar stretch left motorists stranded for days, disrupted the movement of goods and exposed travellers to security risks.

According to Ugolor, “While this intervention is welcomed, it must also be stated that palliative repairs cannot solve a structural failure of national infrastructure.

“Without comprehensive reconstruction, many of these repaired sections may deteriorate again within a short period, resulting in another cycle of emergency interventions funded by taxpayers. This is neither economically prudent nor sustainable.”

He described the Benin–Sapele–Warri Road as one of Nigeria’s most strategic highways and a major economic gateway to the Niger Delta, lamenting that it has suffered years of neglect despite substantial federal allocations to the Federal Ministry of Works and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Ugolor blamed corruption, weak contract management and poor accountability for the road’s deterioration, saying the impact on residents and road users had been severe.

“Many lives have been lost in avoidable road accidents. Businesses have suffered heavy economic losses. Farmers struggle to transport their produce, while patients experience delays in accessing healthcare.

“More alarming is the growing insecurity. The deplorable condition of the road has created opportunities for kidnappers and other criminal elements who prey on stranded motorists,” he said.

The activist also urged the Delta State Government to make public details of the palliative repair contract, including the contract sum, scope of work, implementation timeline, procurement process and monitoring mechanisms.

“Providing this information is not merely an administrative exercise. It is a demonstration of good governance and respect for the citizens whose taxes fund public infrastructure,” Ugolor said.

He further called on Governor Oborevwori to lead a regional advocacy with Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, other Niger Delta governors, members of the National Assembly and key stakeholders to press for urgent federal intervention on the East-West Road.

Specifically, Ugolor urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the East-West Road, provide dedicated funding for its complete reconstruction, publish details of all contracts and project milestones, and establish an independent monitoring mechanism involving civil society organisations and host communities.

“The East-West Road is not merely another highway. It is a national economic corridor that connects people, commerce, industries and critical oil and gas infrastructure.

“Its continued deterioration undermines economic growth, threatens public safety and weakens national development.

“The lives already lost cannot be restored. But many more can still be saved. The people of Delta, Edo and the entire Niger Delta deserve a safe, modern and durable East-West Road, not another cycle of temporary repairs,” he said.