Government should provide the people with well-maintained road networks
In another cycle of emergency intervention, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) last Friday flag-off the reconstruction of the failed sections of the 15.4 kilometres Sapele-Benin Expressway. It is an intervention expected to bring some relief to the long-suffering people, residents and businesses along the critical corridor linking the South-South with other parts of the country. The NDDC managing director, Samuel Ogbuku, apologised to residents, community leaders, and commuters for the prolonged hardship caused by the deplorable condition of the road. Another representative on the board pleaded that the intervention be extended to Amukpe-Abraka-Agbor Road and the Sapele-Warri Road because of their severe degradation.
The palliative measure is prompted by the agony and horror passengers and other road users were recently subjected to along the Benin-Asaba road. The Benin-bypass leads to many destinations – the South-East, Delta and Abuja. As a result of the gridlock arising from bad roads, many motorists were stranded for hours, some for days, to get to their destinations. For instance, travellers spent eight hours to get to Warri, a journey of 50 minutes. Even worse, some others spent three dreary days to commute from Benin to Asaba, a journey of less than two hours. Passengers slept in buses with their children, and many hungry commuters seeking food and water converted Agbor to a temporary night market.
