NDDC BEGINS REPAIR WORKS AT E/WEST ROAD CUT OFF BY FLOOD
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BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU, PORT HARCOURT
Section of East West Road cut off by flood at Ahoad will soon become motorable following repair works on the road by Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
Ahoada axis of East West Road was badly damaged by ravaging flood preventing any vehicular movement from Port Harcourt to both Bayelsa and Delta States.
The acting Managing Director NDDC, Engineer Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, who was at Ihuike community in Ahoada East Local Government Area, Rivers State to inspect the repair works on the road, expressed happiness that economic activities among States linked direct via the road would be restored.
The Acting Managing Director who was given an on the site briefing by the Project Manager for SETRACO, Engineer Mitchell Issa on the State of the road, revealed that the emergency repairs will also take place at Mbiama in Bayelsa State and Patani in Delta State.
Engineer Audu-Ohwavborua who described the level of damage on the as being very serious stated that the intervention was sequel to a directive by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to embark on emergency restoration of the road.
“We were here a week ago with the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs on the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was concerned about the devastation caused by the flood.
The day we visited, it was impossible for any vehicle to ply between Rivers and Bayelsa States.
“These are the kinds of things that the NDDC is created for, to intervene in critical situations. Now, there is some thoroughfare between Rivers and Bayelsa State. Hopefully in the coming days there will be thoroughfare between Bayelsa and Delta states. The Ahoada section is already motorable.”
On his part, The Project Manager of SETRACO, Engineer Michell Issa, while acknowledging that the damage was huge, expressed optimism that the company would expedite action on the road.
He said that the company mobilized their equipment to the sections mostly affected by the flood.
The Project Manager promised that within a week, vehicular movement would commence on the road.