The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, has charged the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to fast-track the reconstruction of the Sapele-Benin Expressway, linking Edo and Delta States.
Momoh, who inspected the ongoing reconstruction of the damaged sections of the road in the company of the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Dr Victor Antai, expressed concern over the deplorable state of the road and urged the construction firm to quicken the pace of work to restore the road and ensure the safety of commuters and other road users.
This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama and sent to newsmen.
The Minister commended the NDDC for reconstructing the 15.4-kilometre failed sections of the Benin-Sapele Expressway, describing it as a major intervention that would ease movement and boost economic activities in Edo and Delta States.
He assured that the observations made during the inspection would receive the necessary attention, adding that relevant agencies and contractors would be encouraged to take appropriate measures to address the identified defects.
Momoh reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to provide durable road infrastructure to improve transportation and support economic activities in the states along the East-West Road corridor.
The NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Dr Victor Antai, said the reconstruction would cover approximately 15.4 kilometres and assured that work on the failed sections of the road would be accelerated.
He thanked President Tinubu for his commitment to developing the Niger Delta region, noting that the NDDC Board and management, led by Chairman Mr Chiedu Ebie and Managing Director Dr Samuel Ogbuku, would deliver on the Commission’s mandate.
- Delta to prosecute businesses without CCTV cameras The Delta State Government has warned business owners and public institutions that failure to install closed-circuit television cameras on their premises could attract prosecution under the state’s law. The Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General of the Ministry of Justice, Omamuzo Erebe, said the government would soon move from public sensitisation to enforcing the relevant provisions. Erebe gave the warning on Thursday during the 2027 budget bilateral discussions involving ministries, departments and agencies, organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning in Asaba. He urged business operators and heads of public institutions to install CCTV cameras, saying the equipment would improve security and help protect lives and property. “I want to use this opportunity to advise business owners and public institutions to ensure that they install CCTV cameras on their premises. “It does not cost as much as people think, and it helps protect society. The law was not enacted just for the sake of having legislation; it is meant to be obeyed. “Very soon, some people may face prosecution for failing to comply with the relevant provisions,” he said. Erebe maintained that ignorance of the law would not exempt anyone from compliance, adding that the government was prepared to take action against defaulters. Reviewing the ministry’s performance in 2026, he said it had recorded progress in defending cases involving the state and reducing unnecessary litigation. He attributed the improvement to better legal advice to ministries, departments and agencies, as well as regular training and motivation for government lawyers. The Solicitor-General disclosed that the ministry had introduced a reward system for lawyers who successfully handled cases, saying the initiative had encouraged improved performance. He added that the ministry had trained officials of government agencies, including the Ministries of Lands and Surveys and Commerce, to ensure that their activities complied with legal requirements. Erebe identified land acquisition as an area where government agencies needed to observe due process, noting that newspaper publications alone might not satisfy the legal requirements. He said the relevant parties must also be properly served to prevent disputes arising from land acquisition. On the ministry’s request for additional lawyers in the 2027 budget, Erebe said the shortage of legal professionals had made fresh recruitment necessary to strengthen its capacity. “The shortage of legal professionals is not limited to the medical sector. It is also happening in the legal profession. That is why we made a case for additional recruitment of lawyers into the ministry,” he said. He described Delta State’s Administration of Criminal Justice Law as one of the most modern legal frameworks, adding that the ministry was reviewing existing laws to address gaps and ensure they reflected current realities. The latest warning followed an earlier directive by the state government in September 2024 reminding owners of commercial premises and public places to comply with the CCTV installation requirement. The government said the law had been in operation since July 28, 2020 and covered facilities including shopping malls, eateries, cinemas, supermarkets, petrol stations, hotels, offices, worship centres and schools. At the time, the government said non-compliance could attract a two-year prison term, a fine of ₦500,000 and the sealing of affected premises until the required cameras were installed.
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Antai said the Commission was committed to fully restoring the road.
He noted: “In the past two months, the road was impassable; trucks were falling over, causing lots of gridlock, but with the intervention of NDDC, none of that is happening again.”
He said further, “The damaged sections of the road under repair by NDDC covers15.4 kilometres, but we are taking the repairs in stages because the road is a major artery in the South-South region. Therefore, we can’t shut down the entire stretch at once.”
The construction firm’s site manager, Engr. Michel Isah, assured that work would be completed in three months if the weather was favourable. He said the work was delayed due to adverse weather conditions.
Some of the sections inspected are Ibada Elume in Warri-Sapele Local Government Area, Mosogar in Ethiope West LGA and Okwadede in Sapele LGA.
Dennis Naku is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with approximately 19 years of professional experience. He has previously worked with Champion Newspapers and National Mirror Newspaper, reporting across multiple beats. His work reflects extensive newsroom experience and a commitment to professional journalism practice.
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