By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The new minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Stephen Oru, has reiterated the federal government’s commitment towards completion of the 338-km dual carriage East/West road by the first quarter of 2015.
Speaking in Sapele, Delta state, during a reception in his honour organized by Pace-Setters Club of Nigeria at the weekend, Oru said the East/West road remains a top priority of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
He further said he that has held a meeting with the contractors handling the road, where they promised to speed up construction works on the road, to ensure its timely completions.
He recalled that the East/West road project, which started four years ago, has 42 bridges, 786 culverts and stretches from Effurun in Delta State, cutting through four states in the Niger Delta region, terminating at Oron, in Akwa Ibom State.
While disclosing that plans are under way to extend the road project to Calabar, the Cross River State capital, Oru assured that “the ministry of Niger Delta Affairs will stand firm and work hard for the completion of the project”.
Earlier in his speech, the president of the association, Eugene Okpe-Inoaghan, said it is the expectation of the association that the minister, while executing his assignment, will leave indelible footprints in the sands of time.
